Overview

• Former Wales captain led a US-backed consortium that submitted a letter of intent to Vincent Tan for a takeover of Cardiff City last month but was turned down.
• Cardiff City, relegated to League One last season, has appointed Brian Barry-Murphy as manager ahead of its first third-tier campaign since 2003.
• Bale’s ties to the club run deep: he was born in Cardiff and his uncle Chris Pike played as a striker for the Bluebirds between 1989 and 1993.
• Before approaching Cardiff, the consortium held takeover discussions with Plymouth Argyle, reflecting Bale’s broader ambition to enter football ownership.
• The trend of high-profile player-investors continues in south Wales after former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric became a co-owner of Swansea City in April 2025.