Venezia owner Leiweke buys minority stake in Bolton Wanderers | OneFootball

Venezia owner Tim Leiweke and his daughter Francesca Bodie have bought a minority stake in Bolton Wanderers, after they were reportedly blocked from investing in Benfica.

Leiweke is an American businessman who was facing an indictment for allegedly rigging a bidding process for the construction of a sports arena at the University of Texas, but when Department of Justice antitrust lawyers were preparing the case, he was pardoned by US President Donald Trump.

Leiweke invested heavily in Venezia

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 22: Tim Leiweke speaks at the ceremonial ribbon cutting prior to tomorrow’s opening night for the NHL’s newest hockey franchise the Seattle Kraken at the Climate Pledge Arena on October 22, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

In May 2026 he then invested €100m in Venezia, who were promoted to Serie A, and installed Bodie as the club President, with rapper Drake also among the co-owners since 2024.

According to The Athletic, Leiweke tried to buy a 16 per cent stake in Benfica, but was blocked because the club’s board did not want to be part of a multi-club group.

Now it seems Venezia are in that situation, because he, Bodie and former OVG executive Keegan McDonald formed a company called Entrepreneur Equity Partners to buy a stake in Bolton.

VENICE, ITALY – MAY 25: Fans of Venezia create a TIFO using coloured flags prior to the Serie A match between Venezia and Juventus at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on May 25, 2025 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

The English club was on the verge of bankruptcy in 2019 and has recently earned promotion back to the second tier via the play-offs.

“We will be bringing the best of what we have learnt as partners to many leading global teams to make Bolton Wanderers stronger than ever before. We are proud to join at this stage of this club’s incredible journey,” said Leiweke in a statement.