Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds in talks ‘to move club out of city’ after £12m investment
Ryan Reynolds is set to join a star-studded £11.8m takeover of Colombian football club Equidad FC through the Tylis-Porter investment group.
The Wrexham co-owner will be joined by Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria, baseball star Justin Verlander and former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil in the venture.
The Bogota-based side confirmed the news on their Twitter page, stating: “The presentation of the new owners of Equidad will be in January.
“Famous investors from the TYLIS-PORTER group like EVA LONGORIA, RYAN REYNOLDS, and JUSTIN VERLANDER will be in Bogota, the team’s headquarters.”
The club’s current president Carlos Zuluaga will continue in his role indefinitely.
The new ownership group is reportedly planning significant changes for the Colombian side, including relocating the team from Bogota and changing its name.
Colombian reporter Felipe Sierra revealed on the programme ‘Sin Boleta’: “Not only is the name change being evaluated, but also the change of city.
“It is one of the alternatives, although the name is almost a fact. Next week the document has to be signed to make the transfer official.”
The move would follow a pattern in Colombian football, where team name changes have become increasingly common under new ownership.
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While the exact amount of Reynolds’ personal investment remains undisclosed, the total takeover figure stands at £11.8m ($15m).
The proposed changes come as Equidad FC has struggled to build a substantial fanbase in Colombia’s capital city.
With a population of 7.9 million people, Bogota is already home to two other football teams – Club Deportivo Los Millonarios and Independiente Santa Fe – making it difficult for Equidad to establish itself.
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The club’s current home, the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo, has a capacity of just 8,000 spectators.
These challenges have led the new ownership group to view relocation and rebranding as essential steps for the club’s future development.
The planned changes for Equidad FC stand in stark contrast to Reynolds’ approach at Wrexham AFC.
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Upon purchasing the Welsh club in 2020, Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney made firm commitments that Wrexham would not face relocation, renaming, or rebranding under their stewardship.
While team relocations and name changes are commonplace in North American sports, with numerous MLB, NBA and NFL teams undergoing such transformations, it’s a far less frequent occurrence in British football.
The Hollywood duo’s commitment to maintaining Wrexham’s identity has contributed to their strong reputation in football ownership, with the club achieving impressive success and rising through the English lower leagues.