Hugh Jackman explores stake in Norwich City
Hollywood star Hugh Jackman is considering buying a stake in Norwich City, reports BritPanorama.
The Australian, who has a familial connection to the club through his mother’s origins in Norwich, appears to be inspired by his close friend Ryan Reynolds, who co-owns the Welsh club Wrexham.
In a recent interview, Jackman, 57, expressed his enthusiasm for the Canaries and outlined his intention to get involved at Carrow Road. “I’m very, very interested – and talking about it right now. Good on Ryan, you do your thing, I’m all about the Canaries,” he told talkSPORT.
He indicated that he has attended matches at Carrow Road and optimistically predicts the team’s promotion this season, stating, “This is the year we’re going to get promoted. That’s my prediction.” Jackman added, “My prediction is Norwich and Wrexham are getting promoted this year.”
The actor, best known for his role as Wolverine, previously had an opportunity to invest in Norwich back in 2010 but declined the offer. “Sometimes I make big mistakes,” he reflected, mentioning a letter he received a year ago inviting him to be a celebrity investor. “I said: ‘I think that’s a little stretched, I’ve been to Carrow Road once, my mum took me’, so I decided not to invest. And since then they’re on a run, so what do I know?”
Norwich City is currently under the majority ownership of American billionaire Mark Attanasio, who purchased a stake in 2022 and took control of the club from former shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones in August 2024. Attanasio is also the principal owner of Major League Baseball’s Milwaukee Brewers.
Jackman elaborated on his connection to Norwich City, recounting how he became a fan while living in Australia, watching the FA Cup at odd hours with his family. He illustrated how he chose to support the Canaries, saying, “I asked: ‘Dad, where are you from?’ He said: ‘London.’ I said: ‘So I’ll go for London?’ He goes: ‘No, there’s a bunch of teams in London.’ I said: ‘Mum, where are you from?’ She went: ‘Norwich.’ I went: ‘Is there a football team in Norwich?’ She went: ‘Yep.’ I said: ‘That’s my team.’
Despite recent struggles in the league, Norwich has found some success in the League Cup, securing victories against MK Dons and Cardiff City to reach the last 32. They now face a daunting tie against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
As Jackman contemplates a potential stake in Norwich City, the crossover of celebrity influence in football continues to blur the lines between entertainment and sporting accountability. How an actor’s passion can intersect with the operational realities of a football club remains to be seen, but it’s apparent that Jackman’s heart lies with the Canaries, reflecting a deeper connection that is all too often absent in the commerce of modern football.
