Cristiano Ronaldo Acquires 25% Stake in UD Almeria as Club Battles for Promotion to La Liga

Key Takeaways:

• Cristiano Ronaldo has secured a 25% ownership share in Spanish club Almeria through CR7 Sports Investments
• Almeria currently sit third in the Segunda Division, two points behind leaders Real Racing with 15 matches remaining
• The club is now partly owned by Ronaldo alongside a Saudi consortium led by Mohammed Al-Khereiji, whose SMC Group acquired Almeria last year

New Investment Signals Ambitious Era for Almeria

Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer with 450 goals in 438 appearances, has expanded his football influence by becoming a co-owner of Spanish second division outfit UD Almeria. The 41-year-old, currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, has purchased a 25% share in the Andalusian side via his newly established CR7 Sports Investments enterprise.

Though precise financial figures have not been made public, Ronaldo expressed his enthusiasm regarding this new venture. He stated that he is eager to collaborate with the club’s leadership team “to support the next phase of the club’s growth”.

The Portugal international also remarked, “It has been a long-held ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch.

“UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth.”

🚨🔴⚪️ OFFICIAL: Cristiano Ronaldo buys 25% of Spanish side Almeria.

Deal completed with second division side currently owned by Saudi investment group. pic.twitter.com/qG8Dbcd0vY

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 26, 2026

Ownership Structure and Strategic Ambitions

The controlling stake in Almeria remains with a Saudi Arabian investment conglomerate spearheaded by President Mohammed Al-Khereiji, who praised Ronaldo’s arrival, remarking: “[Ronaldo] is regarded as the greatest to ever play the game, he knows the Spanish leagues very well and he understands the potential of what we are building here both in terms of the team and the academy.”

Al-Khereiji’s SMC Group took over from former owner Turki Al-Sheikh, chair of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, last year.

Ronaldo’s Career and Financial Standing

Ronaldo, who spent nine seasons with Real Madrid, claimed two La Liga titles and lifted the Champions League trophy four times before departing for Juventus in 2018. Since 2022, he has represented Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and is currently football’s highest-earning player, earning £177 million annually.

Almeria’s Current League Position

UD Almeria, established in 1989, find themselves third in Spain’s Segunda Division. With 15 fixtures left to play, they sit two points behind leaders Racing as they aim for promotion to La Liga.