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San Francisco 49ers Increase Leeds United Ownership Stake

Two years after dipping their toe in English soccer, the N.F.L.’s San Francisco 49ers have doubled down on their bet.

The 49ers on Monday announced that they had increased their ownership stake in the Premier League club Leeds United to 37 percent from 15 percent, a move that further embeds American interests in the world’s richest soccer league.

Paraag Marathe, the 49ers executive who has held a seat on the Leeds United board since San Francisco’s initial investment in 2018, will become vice chairman of Leeds United, whose majority owner will remain Andrea Radrizzani, the Italian entrepreneur.