The worlds of American and European football are colliding in the newest celebrity sports ownership collaboration.
J.J. Watt announced on Twitter on Monday morning that he was officially retiring from retirement... in a way.
The former NFL star is teaming up with his wife, NWSL star Kealia, to invest in Burnley, a newly promoted Premier League and English football club. In addition, Kaelia is hoping to simultaneously grow the Burnley FC women's team.
Here's what you need to know about the Watt family's next big investment.
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Why did Kealia and J.J. Watt invest in Burnley?
J.J. said in a video recorded with his wife and posted to Twitter that he "really needs something to do," despite only being retired for four months.
Incredibly excited to be joining the @BurnleyOfficial ownership group (and for JJ to have something to do 😂😂) UP THE CLARETS!!! pic.twitter.com/DRIMxPo6oX
— Kealia Ohai Watt (@KealiaOhai) May 1, 2023
"I just love football," he said, as the video transitioned to a clip of the NFL. He continued, pulling out a pointer, "No, no. Not that kind. You see, over in these islands here, they play football with their feet. Like her," he gestured to his wife.
He was asked by an interviewer behind the camera if he wanted to be like Ryan Reynolds, who teamed up with Rob McElhenney in 2020 to buy the Welsh soccer club, Wrexham.
Kealia seemed eager for the comparison.
J.J., on the other hand, claimed, "We don't have 'buy an entire European football club' kind of money. We're more along the lines of minority investment but massive emotional investment."
Burnley Football Club history
The club has been around for a near century and a half. In 1882, they became the Burnley F.C. Clarets after the Rugby Club Burnley Rovers changed their sport of focus. In 1883, they were one of the first teams to become professional and put pressure on the Football Association to permit player payment.
In 1885, Burnley entered the FA Cup and in 1888 they were deemed one of the 12 founders of the Football League. The club was renowned for its youth policy and scouting system and became a frontrunner in setting up a purpose-built training ground under its longest chairman, Bob Lord.
Burnley is based in Burnley, Lancashire, a historic county in North West England. The club was the 1920-21 and 1959-60 champions of England, the 1913-14 FA Cup champion, and the 1960 and 1973 FA Charity Shield winners.
During the 2022-23 season, they played as part of the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football. The club earned itself a promotion to the Premier League, the first tier of English football, after finishing first in the EFL.
The women's team was founded after the first century of Burnley's existence, in 1995. The Clarettes were promoted to become part of the FA Women's National League Northern Premier Division during the 2017-18 season, where they won three preliminary round games and properly qualified for the first time in history.
In 2021, the teams were integrated, as the club's newest, American owner Alan Pace sought to turn the women's team professional grade. The Clarettes played their first game at Turf Moor, the home of the Clarets, on April 30, earning themselves a third-place league finish for the 2022-23 season.
“In the US, I’ve seen the NWSL grow into something really incredible, and we’d love to be a part of growing the women’s team here and be a part of their journey," Kealia said in the franchise's press release.
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J.J. Watt net worth, career earnings
Insider estimates that Watts have a combined net worth of about $51 million. J.J. has accounted for a chunk of that with his career NFL earnings and endorsement deals.
Watt, 34, officially retired from the Arizona Cardinals and the land of American football after the 2022 season.
The Wisconsin alumni spent 12 years in the NFL after going No. 11 overall in the 2011 Draft. He was on the defensive line for nine years with the Texans before his move to the desert. He is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and set an NFL record by tallying two seasons with 20-plus sacks.
During his lengthy career, J.J. earned an approximate of $129.75 million — $100.75 million with the Texans, and an even $29 million with the Cardinals, according to Spotrac,
His highest-paying season came in his fifth with Houston, when he earned a whopping $19.97 million.
Kealia Watt net worth, career earnings
There isn't any official information about Kealia Watt's net worth, but Insider reported that she was paid a $100,000 salary to play for the USWNT. And as mentioned, her net worth combined with her husband's is $51 million.
Kealia, 31, is a free agent who most recently played with the Chicago Red Stars, scoring five goals in 2021. She took the entire 2022 season off for their son, Koa, whom she gave birth to on Oct. 23.
The North Carolina alumna was a member of the Tar Heels' 2012 championship winning team and scored the game-winning goal in overtime in the semi-finals. She went No. 2 overall in the 2014 NWSL Draft to the Houston Dash, where she remained until 2019, though she missed part of the 2017 season due to an ACL tear. She was traded in 2020 to the Chicago Red Stars for defender Katie Naughton.
Insider reported that she was paid a maximum annual salary of $37,800 for her first five years, and it increased to $50,000 with her transfer and under new NWSL payroll policies to create equality with their male counterparts.
Kealia has an international track record, too. She played for U.S. national programs from the age of 13, part of the under-15, -17, -18, -20 and -23 teams. She won the FIFA Women's World Cup with her U-20 team by scoring the game winning goal.
She earned herself a call-up for the senior national team in 2016, playing a single friendly against Switzerland. However, she did not make the final roster for the 2018 Tournament of Nations.
