Watford FC: Heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua in Hornets investment talks | OneFootball

The former world champion could be about to own a slice of his local club

Former boxing heavyweight champion of the world Anthony Joshua has revealed that he is currently in talks over a potential investment in EFL Championship outfit Watford.

Joshua is Watford born and bred, and in an attempt to try and invest some of his reported £175 million net worth, according to the 2024 Sunday Times Rich List, the elite athlete has begun to look at potential avenues to invest in.

Tom Cleverley’s side finished 14th in the Championship, picking up just one point from their last five matches. A huge summer is in order, which could be further aided by an investment from Joshua.

With headlines swirling about AJ buying a stake in his local club, the 35-year-old revealed that it is a plausible idea due to the boxer’s desire to spread his wealth across multiple assets, with his in-ring career set to potentially wind down.

Anthony Joshua reveals interest in Watford FC investment

Famed for his dominant nature in the boxing ring, Joshua displayed his business pedigree in a recent interview with Seconds Out,

with the desire to invest the money he's earned from fighting into other ventures - including Watford.

"We wanted to move into private equity, venture capital funds,” AJ said.

“As you earn, naturally you want to save, so rather than me spending recklessly I’m trying to invest money into certain asset classes and that was an opportunity that presented itself.

“Nothing’s come of it yet. It’s a serious investment. If it comes off it’s one that should do well.

“If they went back to the Premier League, then I’d need to get a shop on Market Street because the traffic that would be coming through Watford would be phenomena."

“I remember being on Market Street and watching the football fans.

“I’m not a massive football fan myself, but watching the fans steamroll Market Street and steamroll Vicarage Road were real good scenes.

“If we don’t do it then good luck to them anyway, because they’re a great team."

Anthony Joshua investment would be a big boost for Watford after indiffernet season

The news of potential investment from Joshua may provide some light for Watford fans, who had to endure their team’s whimpered finish to the 2024/25 Championship campaign.

Despite finishing one place higher than the previous year, the Hornets failed to build on strong form early in the season, which saw play-off shouts murmured and instead slumped to the barren wasteland of mid-table.

It’s been three years since Vicarage Road last hosted a Premier League match and the longer that run continues, the more Watford threaten to become resigned to just another consistent second-tier outfit.

A club that was top-flight regulars and FA Cup finalists only six years ago has higher ambitions, and securing investment from Joshua would be a huge step in the right direction, especially with the publicity a move like that would create.

On the boxer’s side, he was heavily linked to a showdown with British rival Tyson Fury, but the latter is still insistent on his retirement. Joshua is yet to compete since losing by a bruising KO to Daniel Dubois last September.