Tom Brady has described his investment in Birmingham City as “one of the most rewarding journeys” of his life while responding publicly for the first time to his surprise departure from the Championship club.
It emerged on Monday that the NFL icon had left Birmingham, just three years after becoming a minority investor.
In a statement shared on Instagram on Tuesday, Brady thanked the club’s supporters, players and manager Chris Davies.
“Being part of Birmingham City Football Club over the last three years has been one of the most rewarding journeys of my life,” he wrote.
“Thank you to the players, Chris Davies and his staff, the front office, and everyone working behind the scenes, whose commitment I saw up close at every level of the club.
“Most of all, thank you to the people of Birmingham. Your passion, your loyalty and the way you support this club through every high and every difficult day are what make it so special. I’ll always be rooting for your success. Keep Right On.”
![Tom Brady said investing in Birmingham City was 'one of [his] most rewarding journeys'](https://i.dailymail.com/1s/2026/11/11/05/112405531-16283457-The_NFL_legend_became_a_minority_owner_three_years_ago_but_has_n-m-2_1794374241262.jpg)
Tom Brady called his investment in Birmingham City “one of the most rewarding journeys” of his life
The NFL great’s departure from the Championship club was announced on Monday
The statement followed a message from Birmingham on Monday evening, which read: “Birmingham City Football Club expresses its sincere gratitude to Tom Brady for his involvement with and unwavering support for the club over the last three years.
“It was amazing to have someone with Tom’s experience and passion associated with the club, and the club looks forward to continuing on that foundation from the training ground to the Birmingham community.”
The seven-time Super Bowl champion became a minority investor in the summer of 2023, joining a takeover led by billionaire Tom Wagner’s Knighthead Capital.
Brady’s involvement in English football was chronicled in a five-part documentary about the new owners’ plans to transform the Midlands club, titled “Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues”.
In the Amazon series, Brady notably questioned Wayne Rooney’s work ethic after appointing him to replace John Eustace.
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The fly-on-the-wall documentary showed Brady visiting Birmingham’s training ground to watch Rooney conduct a team meeting and training session. As he drove away, he told his business manager Ben Rawitz: “I’m a little worried about our head coach’s work ethic.”
Rawitz responded: “Comes across as lackadaisical.” Rooney was dismissed after just 83 days in charge.
Later in the documentary, Brady acknowledged that replacing Eustace with the former England international had been a mistake. He also revealed that he had been advised against making “sweeping changes” so early in his time at the club.
“I had good advice: ‘Don’t go in there and make sweeping changes. You guys have time,’” Brady said. “But we made sweeping changes that put us in decline. That was our doing.”
![In a statement on Instagram, Brady paid tribute to fans, players and manager Chris Davies [Source: Instagram/@tombrady]](https://i.dailymail.com/1s/2026/11/11/12/112434895-16283457-In_a_statement_on_Instagram_Brady_paid_tribute_to_fans_players_a-a-30_1794401886700.jpg)
Brady paid tribute to Birmingham’s fans, players and manager Chris Davies in an Instagram statement [Source: Instagram/@tombrady]
He appointed Wayne Rooney as manager, but the former England captain was sacked after 83 days
During Brady’s time with Knighthead Capital, Birmingham City unveiled plans for what the ownership group describes as a 20-year megaproject. The scheme includes £3 billion ($4 billion) of proposed investment in a “Sports Quarter” for the city.
The 48-acre site in eastern Birmingham is planned to include a new 60,000-seat stadium and training ground built above a network of underground transport tunnels.
However, the project has faced changes to its schedule since it was announced, with the stadium’s expected completion date pushed back from 2029 to 2031.
Daily Mail Sport understands that London-based architects Heatherwick Studio, working alongside Kansas City firm Manica, are expected to develop a design featuring a “chimney theme” as a tribute to Birmingham’s industrial heritage.
Peaky Blinders creator and prominent Bluenose Steven Knight is also believed to be involved, with the ambition of producing “one of the most-talked-about stadium designs ever”.
Brady promised promotion to the Premier League last season. Birmingham are top of the Championship heading into the final international break of the year, but he has now left before the club can return to the top flight.
