An NFL legend and his soccer star wife have invested in Burnley FC.
JJ and Kealia Watt have taken an undisclosed stake in the club which recently won promotion back to the Premier League after one season in the Championship.
Mr Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, announced his retirement last year and has become a successful entrepreneur alongside Kealia, a former USWNT international soccer player.
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Kealia retains the record for scoring the fastest goal of any debutant for the women’s national team, after netting 48 seconds into her international debut in 2016.
The couple said: "When you invest in a club that’s been around since 1882, you must have great respect for its history and tradition. We understand that not only are we investing in the squad and manager, we’re investing in the town and its people.
"We take that responsibility very seriously and intend to work hard in earning their trust and support.
"We have such great respect for what has been built here by Alan, Vincent and the entire organisation and are looking forward to working with them.
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"We believe that Burnley is a special club with incredible supporters and we want to help continue to elevate its global profile on its return to the Premier League.
Kealia also pointed out her determination to help the club's women's team continue to grow after they played their first ever game at Turf Moor last weekend.
She added: "In the US, I’ve seen the NWSL grow into something really incredible, and we’d love to be a part of growing the women’s team here and be a part of their journey."
Burnley chairman Alan Pace said: "We’re absolutely delighted to welcome JJ and Kealia into the Clarets family.
"This is a conversation that has been happening for some time and over the course of this season we’ve been hugely impressed by their passion and interest in both the club and the Burnley community. I am very much looking forward to working with them.
"Both JJ and Kealia bring with them an incredible amount of top-level sporting pedigree and success, as well as ideas and connections that will be invaluable in helping us to continue telling the Clarets story to an international audience."
Burnley FC have been majority owned by management firm ALK Capital since towards the end of 2020.
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