British-Nigerian boxing star Anthony Joshua is making plans of securing a major investment in EFL Championship side Watford FC, the club from his hometown.
The two-time world champion who was born and raised in Watford and still lives in the area, is looking to channel his success into long-term business ventures.
Joshua is reportedly exploring an opportunity to take a financial stake in the club.
READ MORE:Gateway Games 2025: Festival embraces future with Nigeria’s ‘38th State’
The 35 year old, has already made name in his boxing career, winning Olympic gold in 2012 and multiple world titles in the professional ranks. He is also worth an estimated $110 million.
During an interview session with Seconds Out, he revealed that his motivation is to invest strategically rather than spend frivolously — and also said Watford FC emerged as a serious option.
“It’s a serious investment” – British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua eyes Watford takeover
“We wanted to move into private equity, venture capital funds,” Joshua told Seconds Out, via TalkSport.
“As you earn, naturally you want to save, so rather than me spending recklessly I’m trying to invest money into certain asset classes — and that [Watford] was an opportunity that presented itself.”
He added: “Nothing’s come of it yet. It’s a serious investment. If it comes off, it’s one that should do well.
“If they went back to the Premier League, then I’d need to get a shop on Market Street because the traffic that would be coming through Watford would be phenomenal.
Joshua has previously invested in real estate and other businesses, and this potential move into football would add another dimension to his post-boxing portfolio.
Watford finished 14th in the 2024/25 Championship campaign, securing their safety but falling short of a promotion challenge. The Hornets, who were relegated from the Premier League in 2022, have been striving to regain their top-flight status.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
The club has featured several Nigerian players in recent years, including Odion Ighalo, William Troost-Ekong, and Emmanuel Dennis, which could make Joshua’s potential involvement particularly meaningful for fans.
