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Two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has acquired a minority stake in Atlético Madrid, becoming part of the club's ownership group, the Spanish side confirmed on Thursday.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been a dominant force in the NBA over the last two seasons, capturing the 2025 NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder alongside his two MVP honors. Atlético Madrid appears thrilled to welcome such an accomplished athlete into their ownership fold.
"Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has joined Atlético de Madrid's ownership group," Atlético Madrid said in a statement. "The partnership is grounded in shared values: ambition, excellence and the belief that every result must be earned."
The 27-year-old joins fellow Canadian Jonathan David at Atléti and is eager about what lies ahead. "I'm excited to officially join Atlético de Madrid's ownership group," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "This is a club with a long-standing presence at the top of European football, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of its future."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander x @Atleti ❤️🤍
📸@okcthunder pic.twitter.com/GZNCkxJRO1
Back in April, the Thunder shared photos of the Canadian star boarding the team's plane dressed in an Atlético Madrid tracksuit. The extent of his involvement and the value of his ownership stake remain undisclosed, but he joins an ownership structure that includes 11 board members, among them Spanish legend and former player David Villa.
"Beyond the numbers, his ability to perform under pressure and commitment to constant growth align with Atlético de Madrid's values of intensity, pride and ambition. His investment reflects an interest in the club's long-term vision and international growth," Atléti's statement concluded.
By becoming a minority owner at Atléti, Gilgeous-Alexander now finds himself on the opposite side of a fierce rivalry from one of his closest friends.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Vinícius Jr's Friendship
History suggests there may be no player Atlético Madrid harbor more hostility toward—aside from their own striker Julián Álvarez—than Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr. As it happens, Gilgeous-Alexander shares a close friendship with the Brazilian forward.
Over the years, the two global stars have shared photos on social media while on vacation, training together, or simply hanging out. Vinícius Jr has attended Thunder games in the past, posting images of a signed Gilgeous-Alexander jersey to his social media accounts.
What's more, the new Atlético Madrid co-owner has ventured into rival territory. Gilgeous-Alexander visited his friend at Real Madrid's training facility and even had some fun on the pitch, converting a penalty against Vinícius Jr before mimicking Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic celebration. He has also been to the Bernabéu and was photographed on the field alongside Vinícius Jr and Real Madrid defender Éder Militão, wearing a Los Blancos jersey.
Atlético Madrid fans will have little patience for any sign of Real Madrid allegiance from their new owner. Now, Gilgeous-Alexander and his good friend Vinícius Jr find themselves on opposing sides of one of European football's most intense city derbies.
NBA Superstars Continue to Invest in European Soccer
Gilgeous-Alexander is the latest addition to a growing roster of prominent NBA players who have taken ownership stakes in some of Europe's top football clubs.
LeBron James pioneered this trend when he became a Liverpool minority owner in 2011, purchasing a 2% stake in the club for $6.5 million. In 2021, the now-Philadelphia 76er officially became a partner of Fenway Sports Group—the majority ownership entity behind the Reds.
In 2025, former Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant became a minority shareholder of back-to-back Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain. Later that same year, Giannis Antetokounmpo joined the investment group that took over Chelsea Women after BlueCo sold the club.
Russell Westbrook, widely regarded as the most beloved player in Oklahoma City Thunder history outside of Gilgeous-Alexander, holds a stake through the 49ers Enterprises group, which owns Leeds United.
As American investment groups increasingly set their sights on European football, the sport has also become an appealing venture for some of the biggest names in U.S. athletics. Gilgeous-Alexander's entry into Atlético Madrid's ownership group is simply the most recent example of this trend.