Tyson Fury is reportedly exploring a move to buy English football club Morecambe FC alongside former Manchester United and AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as the pair prepare what could become one of the most unusual ownership projects in English football.
Discussions in Warsaw
According to reports from The Sun, Fury and Ibrahimovic recently discussed plans to purchase the National League North side while filming a commercial together in Warsaw, Poland, connected to the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The proposed project would reportedly also include a behind-the-scenes Netflix documentary inspired by the success of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s “Welcome to Wrexham” series.
The reports emerged shortly after Fury surprised fans by posting a photo of himself facing off with Ibrahimovic and hinting at a possible boxing event on August 1 in Dublin. Few seriously believed the former heavyweight champion and the retired football icon were preparing for an actual fight, although the social media post quickly generated widespread speculation online.
According to The Sun, the pair had traveled to Warsaw earlier this week to film a World Cup-related advertisement involving Fury’s food and drinks brand Furocity. A source told the newspaper that discussions about Morecambe FC took place during the trip. “They were in Warsaw filming an advert for the World Cup. Tyson was talking to him about buying his local home town club Morecambe FC,” the source said. “They want to buy the club and make a Netflix documentary called Rise of Morecambe together. Just like Ryan Reynolds did with Wrexham.”
The source added: “They both know what it takes to get to the top. They had a great time filming the ad. It was for the World Cup and Tyson’s food and drink brand Furocity was involved. Then they all went to dinner afterwards. Tyson and Zlatan have been great friends for years. Zlatan used to go to the gym with Tyson when he played for United.”
Morecambe’s Recent Struggles
The reported interest arrives during a difficult period for Morecambe, whose future has faced repeated uncertainty over recent seasons. The club narrowly avoided collapse last year before eventually being rescued by the Panjab Warriors consortium. However, Morecambe’s struggles have continued on the pitch. After previously suffering relegation from League Two, the club endured another disappointing campaign which resulted in relegation from the National League, leaving them in National League North and intensifying concerns about the long-term stability of the club.
The possibility of celebrity-backed ownership has naturally drawn comparisons with Wrexham’s remarkable rise under Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Since purchasing Wrexham in 2021, Reynolds and McElhenney have overseen three consecutive promotions, with the Welsh side now preparing for life in the Championship after narrowly missing out on the play-off positions this season. Their Disney+ documentary “Welcome to Wrexham” also became a major international success and transformed the club into a global football story. According to reports, Fury and Ibrahimovic now believe a similar revival project could be possible at Morecambe.
Fury’s Strong Ties with Morecambe
The proposed move would also carry strong personal significance for Fury because of his existing connections with the Lancashire club. The former world heavyweight champion already operates his main training facility inside Morecambe’s Mazuma Stadium. Back in 2020, Fury purchased the two-storey gym facility at the stadium, which additionally serves as the headquarters for the Tyson Fury Foundation. The 37-year-old boxer has long maintained close ties with the local community around Morecambe and frequently trained there throughout different stages of his career. Reports also suggested Fury could use his previous experience working with Netflix through the successful reality series “At Home with the Furys” to help develop a football documentary centered around Morecambe’s rebuilding process.
Social Media Speculation
Additional intrigue surrounding the reports emerged after Fury and Ibrahimovic both posted photos online appearing to tease an August 1 fight announcement. Ibrahimovic uploaded images of the pair together wearing the same outfits seen during filming in Warsaw while posing with clenched fists. “Breaking news! It’s on August 1 Dublin Ireland. #makingboxinggreatagain,” Ibrahimovic wrote. However, reports indicated the post was intended as a joke rather than an actual fight announcement. Neither Fury’s management team nor boxing promoters Frank Warren and Turki Alalshikh have formally announced any bout involving Ibrahimovic.
The retired Swedish striker, who stepped away from professional football in 2023 after spells with clubs including PSG, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Manchester United, is now preparing to move into television punditry. He recently announced he would work for Fox Sports during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. In a promotional advertisement announcing the role, Ibrahimovic joked: “I bring the American people some good news. Not only is the FIFA World Cup coming to Fox this summer… so is Zlatan. See you soon and you’re welcome, America.”
Fury’s Boxing Future
The reports surrounding Morecambe also arrive during renewed discussion about Fury’s boxing future. Although Fury announced his retirement before returning to defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov by unanimous decision in London on April 11, speculation surrounding a long-awaited fight against Anthony Joshua has intensified again in recent weeks. Reports this week suggested Fury is targeting an August warm-up bout before potentially facing Joshua later in the year. Earlier this week, Fury also posted a photograph alongside his manager Spencer Brown outside a private jet with the caption: “Come fly with me! A few days on business. Big news incoming.” The trip to Poland came only days after Fury attended the wedding of his eldest daughter Venezuela, 16, who married Noah Price, 19, during a lavish ceremony on the Isle of Wight.
While no formal bid for Morecambe has yet been announced publicly, the reported involvement of two of world sport’s most recognisable personalities has already placed significant attention on the struggling Lancashire club and its uncertain future.
