“It’s a serious investment” – British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua eyes Watford takeover

British-Nigerian boxing star Anthony Joshua is weighing up a potential investment in EFL Championship side Watford FC — the club from his hometown, Soccernet.ng reports.

The former unified heavyweight champion, who was born and raised in Watford and still lives in the area, is reportedly exploring an opportunity to take a financial stake in the club.

At 35, Joshua has already carved out a highly successful boxing career — Olympic gold in 2012 and multiple world titles in the professional ranks — earning an estimated $110 million in the process.

Promoter Frank Warren wants to see an all-British fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua pic.twitter.com/XWMpcxgMPm

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) April 30, 2025

Now, the two-time world champion is looking to channel his success into long-term business ventures.

Speaking to Seconds Out, Joshua explained his motivation to invest strategically rather than spend frivolously — and revealed that Watford FC has emerged as a serious option.

“It’s a serious investment” – British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua eyes Watford takeover

“We wanted to move into private equity, venture capital funds,” Joshua told Seconds Out, via TalkSport.

“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 [Watford] was an opportunity that presented itself.”

He added: “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 phenomenal.

“I’m not a massive football fan myself, but watching the fans stream down Market Street and into Vicarage Road — those were great scenes. If we don’t do it, then good luck to them anyway because they’re a great team.”

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Joshua has previously invested in real estate and other businesses, and this potential move into football adds another layer to his post-boxing portfolio.

Watford finished 14th in the 2024/25 Championship campaign, securing safety but falling short of a promotion challenge. The Hornets, who were relegated from the Premier League in 2022, have since been striving to reclaim top-flight status.

The club has had several Nigerian stars in recent years, including Odion Ighalo, William Troost-Ekong and Emmanuel Dennis — a connection that could make Joshua’s involvement even more meaningful for fans.