Cristiano Ronaldo has purchased a 25% stake in UD Almería, a Spanish second division club owned by Saudi group SMC. The announcement was made on Thursday through his new sports holding company, CR7 Sports Investments, which did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
In a statement, Ronaldo said: “It has been a long-time ambition of mine to contribute to football. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the club’s next phase of growth.” The acquisition reflects his long-term commitment to professional football ownership, according to CR7 Sports Investments.
Almería, who last played in Spain's top flight in 2024, currently sit third in the Segunda División, one point behind the automatic promotion places. Club president Mohamed al-Khereiji indicated that Ronaldo would be heavily involved in the youth programme, stating: “He is considered the best on the pitch. He knows the Spanish leagues very well and understands the potential of what we are building.”
Ronaldo, who has played for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr since 2023 and also holds a stake in that club, became the first footballer to be included in Bloomberg’s “Billionaire Index” last October. He recently returned to Al-Nassr's first team after a dispute over the Public Investment Fund's handling of the winter transfer window, and has scored four goals in his last three games.
The 41-year-old is set to participate in his sixth World Cup next summer, though he has suggested it could be his last.
