Two-time Grammy Award winner, Temilade Openiyi (well known as Tems) has become a partner in San Diego FC (SDFC), joining the ownership group of the Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion team through her company, The Leading Vibe.
Her investment is made in collaboration with Pave Investments, an African private investment firm, with Pave’s Tunde Folawiyo and Kwamena Afful also joining the ownership group.
She said: ‘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’,
Tems shared this in a statement, ‘Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego’.
SDFC CEO Tom Penn welcomed the partnership, stating, ‘Tems is an extraordinary artist and cultural force worldwide. We are honored to have her join our club and bring her visionary perspective to San Diego FC. Her passion for empowering the next generation aligns perfectly with our mission’.
Tems has joined a diverse ownership group that includes actress and producer Issa Rae, former Spanish footballer Juan Mata, retired U.S. Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, and MLB star Manny Machado as part-owners of San Diego FC. This group aligns with the club’s vision, which emphasizes youth development and international talent, highlighted by its partnership with the Right to Dream Academy.
San Diego FC is set to make its MLS debut on Sunday, 23 February 2025, against LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park. The club will play its first home game on 1 March 2025, at Snapdragon Stadium against St. Louis CITY SC.
