Giannis Antetokounmpo on Chelsea investment: ‘Opportunity came and I was like, ‘Say less. I want to do it’

London — In a week already rocked by the abrupt dismissal of long-serving women’s football chief Paul Green, Chelsea Women have countered the turbulence with a statement of intent: NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has joined the club’s expanding ownership group, aligning himself with existing minority stakeholder Alexis Ohanian, the Reddit co-founder whose Seven Seven Six fund first bought into the Blues last May.

Antetokounmpo, the 31-year-old Milwaukee Bucks forward and 2021 NBA champion, revealed the move Sunday via a social-media post that pictured him in Chelsea colours. Within hours the club’s women’s account reciprocated the digital embrace, and senior officials confirmed the partnership to The Athletic, ending any speculation about whether the post was mere fanfare.

Speaking exclusively to Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Antetokounmpo traced the decision to a conversation with Ohanian about legacy and daughters, purpose and possibility. “He was telling me how he wants to make a difference and do things that his daughters can remember him for,” Antetokounmpo said. “I was like, ‘Damn, I didn’t even think about that’.”

From that exchange grew curiosity, then commitment. When the chance to buy a minority stake in the reigning Women’s Super League champions landed on his desk, the response was instant. “Say less. I want to do it,” he recalled, laughing.

Terms of the transaction remain confidential. Neither the size of Antetokounmpo’s stake nor the purchase price has been disclosed, and it is unclear whether he bought directly into Chelsea Women or into Ohanian’s existing holding. What is certain is the spending power behind the move: the Greek international has amassed more than $300 million in NBA salary alone and commands further tens of millions annually through endorsements, most prominently with Nike.

The swoosh already links Antetokounmpo and Chelsea Women, fuelling speculation about collaborative apparel drops that could fuse basketball bravado with football culture. Richard Adelsberg, CEO of agency Ear To The Ground, believes the Greek Freak’s edgy brand offers a chance to cut through “soft” empowerment clichés and deliver something “culturally credible,” akin to Paris Saint-Germain’s Jordan-line partnership.

Off the pitch, the investment continues a strategic reshuffle begun last June when Chelsea transferred ownership of the women’s team to Blueco 22 Midco, valuing the operation at £198.7 million and paving the way for outside capital. Ohanian paid roughly £20 million for around 10 per cent in May; Antetokounmpo becomes the second external name on an impressive but exclusive cap table that Blueco insists will remain majority-controlled by the parent company.

The timing is freighted with urgency. Green’s exit after 13 years leaves a leadership void just as the team fights to retain a WSL crown they have lifted in six consecutive seasons. Yet Antetokounmpo, no stranger to playoff heartbreak, offered a mantra that could resonate inside the dressing room: “It’s not a failure; it’s steps to success.”

For the investor himself, English football is familiar territory. In 2023 he and his three brothers bought into Nashville SC of Major League Soccer, and he cites LeBron James’s stake in Liverpool and Kevin Durant’s in PSG as inspirations for branching beyond basketball. Retirement, he admits, is on the horizon, and sport-centric holdings appeal. “I can see myself doing that when I retire,” he said, adding that this summer—playoffs permitting—he plans to visit Cobham, meet players and staff, and “see what it’s about.”

Until then, Chelsea Women will chase silverware knowing one of basketball’s most recognisable faces is amplifying their story far beyond the touchline. In a crowded market for women’s sport, the club now boasts an ownership group blending Silicon Valley foresight, NBA stardom and, potentially, a fresh wave of fans who have never before watched a WSL match.

The opportunity came; Antetokounmpo, true to form, finished the play.