Financial experts working with two-time heavyweight champion boxer Anthony Joshua have held exploratory talks with Watford over an investment in the club, The Athletic can exclusively reveal.
Although not directly involved in discussions himself Joshua, 34, was approached about the possibility of becoming involved in the Championship club and talks are said to have been at “entry level”.
The proposal that was discussed is undisclosed at this stage, but it’s known that Watford have held discussions with other parties regarding a minority stake in the club. Watford value the club in the region of £150million to £175m ($191m to $223m).
‘AJ’ — as he is commonly known — has a net worth of approximately £150m to £200m ($191m to $254m) according to the 2024 Sunday Times Rich List, and strong connections to the club. He was born at Watford General Hospital next to the club’s Vicarage Road ground, grew up in North Watford on the Meriden Estate and went to school in nearby Kings Langley.
“An investment business which has brought Anthony investment opportunities in the past was approached and held an entry level discussion about an opportunity with Watford Football Club,” a spokesperson for Joshua told The Athletic. “This was an initial chat without even a discussion over due diligence which so often 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s these types of deal.”
While the discussions are an indication that the club is actively seeking new investment, it appears Joshua’s focus — at this stage — remains on his current profession.
“Anthony is not involved and has no plans to be involved. He is fully focused on boxing and has no time at the moment to give to new opportunities outside of his sport. He is a son of Watford and wishes them all the best,” Joshua’s spokesperson added.
Watford — owned by Italian Gino Pozzo since 2012 — have been seeking investment for the last few years and this represents the most high-profile name that has been linked with an opportunity. Sources close to the discussions — who didn’t want to identified to protect relationships — suggested that Joshua’s potential involvement may be as part of a consortium proposition.
Joshua, awarded an OBE in 2018, was world heavyweight champion from 2016 to 2019 and is one of the most recognisable global sports stars with a social media following of 28 million. His commercial pull is significant with current agreements with Under Armour, AP, DAZN, Hugo Boss, JD Sports, Land Rover, Jaguar, Lynx and Lucozade.
He won his most recent heavyweight bout in Saudi Arabia against Francis Ngannou and was ringside to watch Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury, sat alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
Joshua is friends with former Watford striker, Troy Deeney (left) (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Winning Olympic gold at London 2012 launched Joshua into the public consciousness. Coincidentally, also part of the Team GB that year was the current Watford head coach Tom Cleverley who competed in the football competition. Joshua spent his formative years playing football — including a spell at St Albans City, where Watford’s under-21 team now play — before taking up boxing aged 18 in 2007.
Prior to winning his first heavyweight title in 2014, he held an open workout in Watford.
“It’s my town,” Joshua said at the time. “It is nice to be back. I’ve still got family and friends based here. It’s great to come back to Watford.”
There was talk at that point of one of his fights taking place at Vicarage Road. “Fighting anywhere appeals to me but Vicarage Road would be the icing on the cake,” he said. “It’s my town and on a nice sunny day, against an opponent people want to see me fight, it would create a great atmosphere in Watford. Hopefully that will happen if I keep doing my job and keep winning.”
He was quickly drawing big crowds in larger arenas like Wembley stadium, where he beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 to add the WBA and WBO titles to his IBF crown. Prior to the fight he spoke to Watford’s most famous fan, and former owner, Sir Elton John.
“We spoke to Elton John before the fight. He sent a message, saying he would like to speak to me,” Joshua said at the time. “He’s a Watford man. It felt surreal, Elton John wanting to talk to me. He just wanted to pass on a good luck message as a fellow Watford guy and wish me good luck.”
Joshua’s link to Watford also includes a friendship with the club’s former captain Troy Deeney.
Away from the spotlight Joshua is passionate about local projects in the area. In 2021 he set up a community-interest company called Clean Herts to help young generations.
“Me and the boys grew up in Watford (and) have been doing many things in the community where it’s touched some people and some people have been seeing from a distance, but we want to get more people involved,” he said when it was launched. “We organised (this) foundation … because clean hearts win, and we want to bring that energy into the community.”
The Athletic has contacted Watford for comment.
(Photo by Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)
