Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins ownership group of Atlético Madrid
The Oklahoma City Thunder star and two-time NBA MVP is now an investor and shareholder in the Spanish La Liga club.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has joined the ownership group of Spanish soccer team Atlético Madrid.
The back-to-back NBA MVP is joining the La Liga side as an investor and shareholder, the club announced on Thursday, Oct. 8.
"I'm excited to officially join Atlético de Madrid's ownership group," Gilgeous-Alexander said in a statement. "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."
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The announcement did not divulge how much the Thunder star had invested.
Atletico de Madrid said in a club release that the "partnership is grounded in shared values: ambition, excellence and the belief that every result must be earned."
The club, founded in 1903, has won 11 league titles, the most of any Spanish club outside of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
It has also won 10 Copa del Reys, three UEFA Europa Leagues and three UEFA Super Cups.
Atlético de Madrid currently sits in second place in the La Liga table, five points behind leaders Barcelona.
Apollo Sports Capital, an American asset management company, is the club's majority owner after a huge investment deal closed in March. The details of that agreement have not been disclosed.
Gilgeous-Alexander is a known supporter of the club and has made appearances sporting Atletico colours and clothing.
The Canadian guard has a long-time connection with soccer. In a 2025 Q&A with fans through GQ magazine, Gilgeous-Alexander revealed the game was his first sport growing up in Hamilton, Ontario.
"If I could, I would play soccer. Soccer is my first sport," he told GQ.
He also has a documented friendship with Brazil and Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, who attended an Oklahoma City Thunder game in December 2023 to support the superstar guard.
Now, Gilgeous-Alexander will be associated with Real Madrid's biggest local rival.
Gilgeous-Alexander helped the Thunder to the 2024-25 NBA title, while also winning NBA Finals MVP during that playoff run.
He is a four-time All-NBA First-Team player and All-Star and led the league in scoring two seasons ago.
He is the two-time reigning NBA MVP, having won the award in 2025 and 2026.
Atlético de Madrid has featured numerous legendary players including Luis Aragonés, Jan Oblak and Antoine Griezmann, among many others.
With files from Yahoo Sports, Sportsnet and USA Today