Beckham is negotiating to buy consumer joint venture S.G, is this the key to the 2024 billionaire title?

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder is in talks with Hong Kong-listed Global Brands Group about an estimated £29m buyout of Seven Global, Sky News learns.

David Beckham’s management company is in talks to buy out the former England captain’s consumer products licensing joint venture, a move that would give him greater control of a lucrative array of commercial endorsements.

Sky News has learnt that David Beckham Ventures Limited (DBVL) is in the early stages of negotiations with Global Brands Group (GBG), a Hong Kong-listed company, to take full or majority ownership of Seven Global.

The discussions are at an early stage and only got under way in the last week, according to people close to the situation.

Sources suggested that acquiring GBG’s stake in Seven Global could cost Beckham in the region of $40m (£28.8m), although a more precise figure was unclear on Wednesday.

Seven Global was established in 2015 and assumed control of some of Beckham’s longest-running commercial partnerships, including those with the sportswear label Adidas and Tudor, a watch brand owned by Rolex.

The joint venture, in which DVBL is understood to hold a 49% stake, also includes the former footballer’s partnerships with the eyewear maker Safilo, the fragrances producer Coty and in categories such as skincare.