Tems makes history as first female artist to own a stake in San Diego FC club
Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has made history as a part-owner of Major League Soccer (MLS) club San Diego FC.
Through her company, The Leading Vibe, she becomes the first African female to acquire ownership stakes in an MLS team.
The American club confirmed the inclusion of the two-time Grammy award winner to its executives in a statement on Wednesday.
The deal was also brokered through a partnership with Pave Investments, an African private investment firm that worked on driving investors for NBA Africa.
According to San Diego FC, the singer has become a club partner and shares a “commitment to excellence and community engagement.”
Tems, born in Lagos, described football as “a unique way of bringing people together,” adding that she looks forward “to helping build something special in San Diego.” “I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community. “Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation,” Tems said. Juan Mata, a former Chelsea player; Issa Rae, an American actress; and Jocko Willink, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, are other San Diego FC ownership group members. According to the announcement, Tems’ influence as a global cultural icon aligns with the club’s mission to unite communities through soccer while promoting creativity and empowerment
San Diego FC
San Diego Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in San Diego. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference.The club’s ownership group is led by British Egyptian businessman and former politician Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a federally recognized Native American tribe. The group was awarded an expansion team on May 18, 2023. The club will begin play in the 2025 season as the 30th in MLS.
