Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo becomes a minority owner in UD Almería as he expands his football portfolio while still playing at Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo has taken a major step into football ownership by acquiring 25 percent of Spanish club Unión Deportiva Almería, marking his most significant investment in the sport off the pitch to date.
The 41-year-old Portuguese icon – who continues to score goals for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr – announced the deal through CR7 Sports Investments, a subsidiary of his wider CR7 SA business empire. Ronaldo said the move reflects a long-held ambition to contribute to the game beyond his playing career.
Almería, a club based in Andalusia currently competing in Spain’s Segunda División, sit in a strong position in the promotion hunt this season and were most recently in LaLiga in 2023/24.
They find themselves in third position – two points off the top – with 15 regular season matches remaining.
By investing in a side with solid foundations and prospects of a top-flight return, Ronaldo is stepping into the executive side of football at a pivotal time for the club.
Investment, ambition and next steps
In a statement, Ronaldo emphasised that his involvement at Almería is about “contributing to football in a way that goes beyond the pitch.”
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The project appeals to him as a blend of sporting potential and business opportunity at a club with a developing academy and loyal fan base.
The transaction was facilitated in part by Almería’s existing ownership structure. The club was bought in 2025 by a Saudi Arabian investment group led by Mohamed Al-Khereiji, with whom Ronaldo has maintained a close relationship – one that first made headlines when the forward joined Al-Nassr at the end of 2022.
Al-Khereiji welcomed Ronaldo’s involvement, highlighting the value his experience and global stature bring to the club’s growth ambitions both on and off the field.
While financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed, the announcement positions Ronaldo among a growing group of elite former players moving into club ownership roles.
It also fuels speculation about the Portuguese forward’s future beyond retirement, with some suggesting he could deepen his role in football administration over the coming years.
The focus at Almería is now on securing promotion to LaLiga, where Ronaldo’s ownership stake could one day see him involved in Spain’s top tier from the dugout of a club he now partly controls.