Hugh Jackman in Talks to Buy Stake in Norwich City

Hugh Jackman is in talks to buy a stake in Norwich City, turning a childhood obsession with the Canaries into a potential boardroom role at Carrow Road.

The Wolverine star, a self-confessed Norwich fan since boyhood, revealed on TalkSport that he is actively negotiating with the club’s hierarchy over purchasing shares.

"I'm very, very interested - and talking about it right now," he said. "You're the first one to know that. There's a little exclusive. Good on Ryan, you do your thing, I'm all about the Canaries."

Jackman, 57, has long-standing ties to Norfolk through his mother, who still lives in Norwich. Those family roots first pulled him towards the club and to Carrow Road as a teenager.

"I went to Carrow Road a couple of times, and I love the Canaries, and this is the year we’re going to get promoted. That’s my prediction," he added while promoting his new film, The Death of Robin Hood.

A childhood choice that stuck

Born in Australia to English parents, Jackman grew up on late-night broadcasts of the FA Cup, beamed into the family home in the early hours.

"When I was in Australia, growing up, I had English parents who emigrated to Australia," he recalled. "We used to watch the FA Cup. It was the only thing we were allowed to stay up for, 3 o'clock in the morning. We had to go to bed first, and we were woken up to watch it.

"So I was seeing all these teams, Arsenal and all these teams, and I was like, I've got to pick a team. I said, 'Mum, where are you from?' She went, 'Norwich'. I went, 'Is there a football team in Norwich?' She went, 'Yep'. I said, 'That's my team'.

That snap decision has endured. Jackman owns a replica of the 1984 Milk Cup commemorative shirt and remains a regular visitor to the city. In 2023 he was spotted at the Waffle House on St Giles Street, telling staff it was a must-stop every time he came back to Norwich.

From fan to investor

Norwich City are currently controlled by the Norfolk Holdings group, led by American businessman Mark Attanasio, who also runs Major League Baseball side Milwaukee Brewers. The group increased its shareholding in March last year, taking over from long-time custodians Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones, and now holds around 85% of the club.

Smith and Wynn-Jones, celebrity supporters who fronted the club’s leadership for 28 years before stepping back in 2024, still retain a 10% stake. The remaining shares sit with a collection of independent fans and individual investors.

Talks with Jackman, who is reported to be worth around £100m, have been ongoing for some time. Any deal would see him invest directly into Norwich City rather than into Norfolk Holdings itself.

This is not the first time the actor has been invited to put money into the club. Back in 2011, he revealed that then-majority shareholder Delia Smith had written to him asking if he wanted to become a "celebrity investor".

"I got a letter about a year ago saying, 'Being such a huge Norwich City fan would I like to be a celebrity investor?', like a small part-owner," he said at the time. "I said, 'I think that's a little stretched; I've been to Carrow Road once, my mum took me', so I decided not to invest."

The tone has clearly shifted. The fan who once felt too distant from the club now finds himself in serious discussions about ownership.

Another American-era headline

If Jackman completes a deal, Norwich will join a growing list of English clubs with high-profile entertainment and US sports figures on their shareholder registers.

Ryan Reynolds, a close friend of Jackman’s, co-owns Wrexham, who now share a division with Norwich in the Championship. NFL legend Tom Brady holds a minority stake in Birmingham City. JJ Watt is a minority owner at Burnley. Will Ferrell has a share in Leeds United as part of the 49ers group, while Snoop Dogg owns a slice of Swansea City.

Norwich already sit within that American-influenced landscape under Attanasio. Adding Jackman’s name to the mix would give the Canaries a Hollywood edge to go with their baseball-backed boardroom.

For a club chasing a return to the Premier League, the question now is simple: will one of cinema’s biggest stars help bankroll the next promotion push he so confidently predicts?