NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal’s huge fortune could significantly benefit a Premier League club.

According to reports, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is currently in negotiations to acquire a stake in Premier League team West Ham United in order to broaden his sporting interests.

There are reports that NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is in negotiations to acquire a stake in West Ham United, a Premier League team.

The towering basketball legend, 52, is rumoured to have fallen in love with the Hammers after attending a game at the London Stadium last season. He may now be prepared to invest a significant amount of money in the East End organisation. Shaq, who has developed a significant interest in football in recent years, is willing to invest a substantial sum of money to participate in the West Ham game, as reported by The Sun.

Despite West Ham’s rocky patch in the second half of last season, which saw David Moyes ultimately replaced by Julen Lopetegui in the dugout, and their failure to replicate their 2023 European success after losing to Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League quarters, which resulted in a ninth-place finish last season, O’Neal appears in no way discouraged.

The former LA Lakers star, who is estimated to have a net worth of $500 million (£396m), is eager to become a shareholder in the club. If negotiations proceed efficiently, Shaq could be signing the dotted line before the 2024/25 season begins.

O’Neal has been actively involved in the business world since retiring from basketball in 2011. He has invested in companies such as Papa John’s, Krispy Kreme, Five Guys Burgers, and Auntie Annie’s Pretzels. Shaq is not only a shrewd investor, but also a marketing juggernaut, earning approximately $60 million (£47 million) annually from endorsements with prominent brands such as Reebok, Pepsi, Taco Bell, and Burger King, as reported by Football London.

West Ham is presently owned by four significant investors. Vanessa Gold, the daughter of David Gold, who passed away in January 2023, owns 25.1% of the club, while David Sullivan retains a 38.8% stake. Furthermore, the Hammers are owned by Czech magnate Daniel Kretinsky, who holds a 27% stake, and American investment guru Albert ‘Tripp’ Smith, who owns 10%.

If O’Neal is able to negotiate a contract with the highest-ranking officials, he will become the most recent American celebrity to invest substantial sums in a British football club. This follows the acquisition of a stake in League One team Birmingham City by NFL superstar Tom Brady last year, the ownership of League One side Wrexham by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, and the ownership of a portion of Championship squad Leeds United by Hollywood jokester Will Ferrell.

The 7ft 1in legend, who is a four-time NBA champion, played for six teams over the course of his 19-year tenure. He began his professional career with the Orlando Magic, where he established himself as one of the most talented centres in the league, earning the title of Rookie of the Year in 1993.

In 1996, he transferred to the Los Angeles Lakers and subsequently won three consecutive championships with his teammate Kobe Bryant. Additionally, he was awarded the NBA MVP in 2000. Nevertheless, the Lakers traded O’Neal to the Miami Heat in 2004 as a result of a persistent dispute with Bryant.

He secured an additional NBA Championship during his tenure there before transitioning to the Phoenix Suns in 2008. He subsequently played for the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers before retiring in 2011.