‘The British are coming’ was Paul Revere’s warning call amid the revolutionary battles that first secured US independence from the UK – but now the Americans are coming for English football and taking over ‘the beautiful game’ in the land of its birth.Eleven of the 20 current Premier League clubs are now fully or partly owned by interests from across the Atlantic, including four of the so-called ‘Big Six’.Liverpool have been in the hands of multinational holding firm Fenway Sports Group since 2011 while consortium BlueCo bought Chelsea from Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich after the British government imposed sanctions on him in 2022. Boardroom meetings and share prices are becoming as important to football clubs as tactic boards and transfer fees – and yet increasingly US investors are sprinkling some celebrity stardust on to England’s national sport.Harlem-born rapper A$AP Rocky could become the latest, with reports this week linking him with a £15million move for League Two team Tranmere Rovers – potentially following in the footballing footsteps of Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds and sports icons such as Tom Brady and LeBron James. Hollywood star and Wrexham FC co-owner Ryan Reynolds has become a fervent fan – cheering them on here at a pre-season friendly in his hometown of Vancouver in July this year Basketball legend LeBron James, a minority stakeholder in Liverpool FC since 2011, is pictured at a game between them and Manchester United at Anfield in October that year Seven-time Superbowl winner Tom Brady was announced in August last year as a shareholder in the company which bought Birmingham City US rapper A$AP Rocky, pictured with his popstar girlfriend Rihanna, has this week been linked with a potential £15million investment in League Two club Tranmere RoversFootball business analysts say English football clubs are seen as ‘bargains’ for US investors compared to NFL, basketball and baseball franchises back home.But they also suggest that the attraction is not only the prospect of profits, but also potential boosts to their own personal brand – aside from any intrigue for what happens on the field.Christina Philippou, associate professor in accounting and sport finance at the University of Portsmouth, told MailOnline that the success of Reynolds and his ‘Welcome To Wrexham’ adventure was looking like a ‘blueprint’ for fellow celebs.His involvement with the Welsh club since 2020 has spawned a global hit documentary series and visits to matches by fellow Hollywood A-listers such as Hugh Jackman and Eva Longoria – not to mention two promotions in a row.The newest well-connected arrival could well be A$AP Rocky, who is in a relationship with pop superstar Rihanna, after he was this week said to be part of an investment group headed up by celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina.Tacopina, Donald Trump’s former representative, has reportedly been in talks with Tranmere for more than six months over an 80 per cent stake worth £15million.A source was quoted by the Sun as saying: ‘Rocky is tight with Joe and has committed to the Tranmere bid. Joe has been to Tranmere matches and Rocky has plans to go over too after the deal is completed. We may even see Rihanna watching League Two football.’Deadpool star Reynolds has certainly become a familiar face to Wrexham fans, while also sharing their footballing fortunes with viewers worldwide after he bought the then-non-league Welsh club in 2020.He and business partner Rob McElhenney – also an actor as well as screenwriter and co-creator of sitcom It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia – have become heroes to supporters and the surrounding town. US stars Rob McElhenney (left) and Ryan Reynolds (right) bought Wrexham FC in 2020 – they are pictured here at the Television Academy in Los Angeles in April last year A$AP Rocky – pictured at Milan Fashion Week in February last year – is reportedly linked to a possible £15million investment in Tranmere Rovers  More Hollywood A-listers have been lured to Wrexham games since the involvement of co-owner Ryan Reynolds (left) – Hugh Jackman (right) is seen here at a game in August last yearThey have not only pumped in funds – helping the club win two successive promotions – but also plenty of publicity, with award-winning documentary series Welcome To Wrexham charting their efforts.Dr Philippou said: ‘We’ve seen what Rob Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have done – they’ve used their status to elevate the club’s commercial worth.’They’ve done the documentary which has brought in income, it’s brought in commercial deals with sponsors and helped the club to two promotions because of the extra funds they can spend on players.’One key lure she highlights is that, unlike in the top levels of US sports, relegation poses a risk to clubs in English football – which could make investing a gamble, yet also can keep down the price of buying in in the first place.Only three English football clubs feature in the top 50 most valuable sports teams in the world, in a recent study by Forbes magazine – Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City.The average value of an NFL franchise is £3.93billion and £3.01billion for those in the NBA – whereas even in the Premier League the average club value is ‘only’ £1.16billion, according to a study last year by industry analysts Sportico.The promotion and relegation system also gives US investors more possibilities to get involved at a lower, cheaper level and ideally rise from there.Dr Philippou said: ‘It’s a lot more expensive in US sports. If you want to be in the top league, you have to buy into the top leagues – you can’t buy into the lower leagues and then use your brand to help the team progress.’The fact that relegation exists here is a major factor – that means you can buy at better value lower levels and use those celebrity connections of yours to help elevate the club.’ Documentary series Welcome To Wrexham has been a hit – from left to right at an event in Los Angeles in April last year: Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenny and TV presenter Jimmy Kimmel Ryan Reynolds, co-owner of Wrexham, is seen with fans before their first game back in the English Football League after promotion, in August last year against Milton Keynes Dons His co-owner Rob McElhenney is seen here making a video call to Ryan Reynolds after Wrexham scored against Stockport County at their Racecourse Ground home in April this yearReynolds and McElhenney are not the only actors entering the English football fray – Michael B Jordan, whose hit films include Creed and Black Panther, bought a minority stake in Premier League side Bournemouth in December 2022.He was part of an investment group alongside Bill Foley, who is also a shareholder in Scottish Premiership club Hibernian and owner of NHL ice hockey franchise Vegas Golden Knights back in the US.And there are plenty of names from the heights of US sport who are now making the running in what of course is better known in their nation as soccer.One of American football’s all time greats, seven-time Superbowl winner Tom Brady, was a surprise recruit to the Birmingham City cause in August last year.He bought 3.3 per cent of shares in the club, which was then riding high in the Championship before a disastrous slump and relegation to League One.His stake is actually in Shelby Companies Ltd, which was used to swoop for the club by US investment firm Knighthood Capital Management – headed by Brady’s friend Tom Wagner.In a statement announcing Brady’s involvement, Birmingham said he would ‘apply his extensive leadership experience and expertise across several components of the club, including working alongside the sports science department to advise on health, nutrition, wellness, and recovery systems and programs’.And while Brady admitted he had ‘a lot to learn’ about this version of football, he insisted it was ‘a real honour’ to become ‘part of the Blues’.He said at the time: ‘I do know a few things about winning, and I think they may translate pretty well. NFL great Tom Brady (left) was in the crowd, with former England captain David Beckham to his left, for Birmingham City’s match against Wrexham at St Andrew’s last month He was pictured before the match beside the pitch with Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney Tom Brady is seen here on a visit to Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s ground for their match against Leeds United in August last year, just after his involvement with the club was revealed’I know success starts with the work put in when the world isn’t watching. I know a team is nothing without the city that shows up and stands behind it.’Most importantly, I know I like being the underdog. The road’s been long for Birmingham, but these fans have never stopped believing. I’ll see you at St Andrew’s soon. It’s time to get to work.’And he has been to St Andrew’s several times, including last month’s game against Wrexham – making for a star-studded crowd, with not only Brady, Reynolds and McElhenney there, but also English celebrity guest David Beckham.That match in League One had been shrouded in some controversy beforehand, with claims that the US investors involved wanted to stage it across the Atlantic in what would have been an English first – but that was unpopular with fans and ruled out by football chiefs.Instead, Americans have had to come over here to experience English football’s passion in person – with another recent arrival being another Hollywood A-lister.Anchorman star Will Ferrell last month marked his new minority stake in Championship club Leeds United by watching them at their Elland Road home in a 1-0 defeat to Burnley.He had announced his involvement earlier in the year – and fans were further taken aback when Paris Hilton recorded a ‘good luck’ message ahead of the club’s Championship promotion play-off final defeat to Southampton.The club is now run by 49ers Enterprises, which also owns NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, and which first took a 15 per cent stake in 2018 before increasing it to 44.1 per cent three years later and taking full control last year.Fellow Leeds stakeholders from the US include golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, legendary Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and NBA basketball players Larry Nance Jr and Russell Westbrook.From the other side of the world, for good measure, they are joined by Oscar-winning Australian actor Russell Crowe.  David Beckham (right) also attended Wrexham’s FA Trophy final against Bromley at Wembley in May 2022, where he watched alongside the club’s co-owner Ryan Reynolds (left) Hollywood actor WIll Ferrell was revealed last month as a minority shareholder in Leeds United and attended the club’s match against Burnley at Elland Road on September 14 The Anchorman star sat in the stands among fans, watching his side’s 1-0 defeatAnother basketball player taking an interest in English football is NBA great LeBron James, who paid £4.7million for a two per cent stake in Premier League giants Liverpool in 2011.That shareholding could now be worth £37million, according to a recent valuation of the club by accountancy firm KPMG.Since March 2021 he has also been a partner at the club’s owners FSG.Meanwhile, another NFL footballer who retired from that sport around the same time as Brady, J. J. Watt, took a minority stake in Championship club Burnley in May 2023.Two months earlier he had been to their Turf Moor ground to enjoy a 3-0 victory over Wigan Athletic, on the club’s course to promotion into the Premier League – although they have since dropped back down a division.Watt – who had previously spoken about supporting Chelsea – was joined in investing by his wife Kealia, an ex-professional footballer who won three caps for the USA.As the surge in value of James’s Liverpool shareholding suggests, there can be benefits for the US celebrities as well as the English clubs they now support.Dr Philippou said: ‘Of course, it works both ways – the celebrity can use the club to elevate their own personal brand status and perhaps their own personal commercial deals on the back of being linked to an English football club. NFL star J. J. Watt and his wife Kealia, a former professionaller, have been minority shareholders in Championship club Burnley since March last year  The married couple are seen here with fellow Burnley fans enjoying the Lancashire club’s promotion-celebrating parade through the town in May last year LeBron James, seen standing amid the Anfield crowd for Liverpool’s home game against Manchester United in October 2011, bought a £4.7million stake in the Merseyside club’It can open up different markets for US celebrities who are more well known in their own country than they are in the UK.’Ryan Reynolds, we all knew, but Rob McElhenney was less so in the UK before Wrexham.’Tom Brady, everybody who’s ever watched NFL will know who he is, but others might have been less familiar.’I think a lot of celebrities are now looking at particularly what’s happened at Wrexham and the possibilities there are – seeing it as a blueprint success, at relatively little cost, in a way that’s more difficult in the US.’