NEWS UPDATE: LEEDS UNITED ownership group; welcomes the addition of NBA star Russell Westbrook.

NBA star Russell Westbrook has joined the ownership group of Leeds United, becoming a stakeholder in the takeover led by 49ers Enterprises. This consortium, which also includes golf major winners Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, is set to assume complete ownership of the football club.

Russell Westbrook, the Los Angeles Clippers point guard and 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player, revealed his involvement in the ownership deal during a sports and entertainment summit organized by Sportico. As the 14th highest-paid athlete globally, Westbrook engaged in discussions with existing partners, particularly the 49ers, before deciding to invest in Leeds United.

Westbrook, a nine-time NBA All-Star, expressed his deliberations on the deal, stating, “I was lucky enough to have conversations with some of the partners in this deal, who already have ownership, the 49ers. So I was lucky enough to talk through that with friends, talking with my business partner as well about different things and having conversations, figuring out if this was the right deal and how we could make it different.”

The ownership group, led by 49ers Enterprises, includes notable figures from the sports world, such as golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. Spieth and Thomas had previously confirmed their status as minority stakeholders in Leeds. However, golfer Rickie Fowler withdrew from the deal following the club’s relegation from the Premier League in May.

Leeds United’s joint-owners, 49ers Enterprises, the financial branch of the NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers, have acquired the majority 56% share previously held by former chairman Andrea Radrizzani. The English Football League is currently conducting the owners and directors test before finalizing approval for the 49ers’ complete takeover.