January 17 – A US consortium, fronted by real estate investor Al Tylis and Club Necaxa executive Sam Porter, and featuring Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney (pictured), has acquired over 99% of Colombian football team Club Deportivo Seguros La Equidad.
The deal, finalised on Thursday, marks another bold step in the group’s efforts to expand its global soccer portfolio. For Reynolds and McElhenney, La Equidad represents the next chapter in their football ownership journey, which began with the acquisition of Welsh club Wrexham AFC in 2021.
What started as a gamble on a modest National League team has turned into a phenomenal success. Under their stewardship, Wrexham earned promotion to the English Football League and became a global phenomenon, buoyed by the critically acclaimed Disney+ docuseries ‘Welcome to Wrexham’. The project not only revitalised the club but also turned it into a household name for international audiences, particularly in the United States.
The acquisition of La Equidad adds South America to the consortium’s growing footprint. The Colombian side, which finished 13th in the league last season, joins a portfolio that also includes a minority stake in Mexican club Club Necaxa.
Reynolds and McElhenney invested in Necaxa in April 2024, aligning with Tylis and Porter, who had acquired around 50% of the Mexican club in 2021. That partnership also created a reciprocal agreement, with Necaxa taking a reported 5% stake in Wrexham.
The Necaxa deal brought in other notable investors, including former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Özil, MLB star Justin Verlander, and actress Kate Upton. Now, with La Equidad, the group is extending its ambitions further, eyeing untapped opportunities in Colombia’s passionate football culture.
“I am pleased to confirm that Al Tylis, our investment partners, and I have successfully acquired Club Deportivo La Equidad,” Porter said in a statement. “This is an incredible opportunity to enhance the club’s growth in every aspect and to become an integral part of Colombian football.
“We are privileged to collaborate with an outstanding group of investors, including Eva Longoria, Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, and Shawn Marion, who have been instrumental in our project at Club Necaxa in Mexico. Together, we are committed to elevating the Club to its highest potential.”
This latest acquisition underscores the consortium’s intent to replicate the Wrexham model in new markets, combining strategic investment with a flair for storytelling and fan engagement. As La Equidad embarks on this new era under US ownership, all eyes will be on how the group’s innovative approach can elevate the club both on and off the pitch.
The purchase also reflects a broader trend of North American investors targeting Latin American football clubs. For Reynolds and McElhenney, whose charm and business acumen have already proven a winning combination, La Equidad offers yet another canvas to expand their legacy in the world of football.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1737148283labto1737148283ofdlr1737148283owedi1737148283sni@g1737148283niwe.1737148283yrrah1737148283