Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chooses soccer club to invest in and it's a Spanish giant
The two-time NBA MVP is turning his big basketball contract into a sports investment overseas.
It's quite common for professional athletes to become minority owners of sports teams once their playing careers are done. But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn't feel the need to wait, and has already chosen a soccer club to put his money into.
The two-time NBA MVP, fresh off of four straight NBA All-Star appearances, signed a massive $285 million extension in 2025 with the Oklahoma City Thunder . That was after he had secured a $172 million rookie extension four years prior. He has also had endorsement deals with Converse and now Nike .
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins Atletico Madrid as minority owner
SGA is now set to use some of that money earned by investing in Atletico Madrid , one of the most notorious clubs in all of club soccer. Though not quite as known to casual fans as Real Madrid or FC Barcelona , "Atleti" is widely considered the third-biggest club in Spain. They are currently in second place in LaLiga , ahead of Real Betis and Real Madrid.
Gilgeous-Alexander had this to say about becoming a "rojiblanco": " I'm excited to officially join Atlético de Madrid's ownership group. 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 ."
Likewise, Atletico Madrid put out a statement of their own, saying that " The back-to-back NBA MVP and NBA champion joins the club’s ownership group, building on an affinity for Atlético de Madrid that he has already shown by wearing the rojiblanco colours ahead of the announcement ."
