Faiq Bolkiah, often referred to as ‘the world’s richest footballer’, is set to join a new club. The former Chelsea academy player is reportedly on the brink of signing with Brunei side, DPMM FC, in India’s M-League during the January transfer window.
Despite not being a household name, Faiq’s financial standing in football far surpasses those considered football royalty. His wealth eclipses that of Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and Lionel Messi, with the Ratchaburi FC player being the heir to a staggering £15billion fortune.
As the son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah and nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, 27-year-old Faiq didn’t need to pursue a career in football for financial reasons. However, he demonstrated a strong determination from a young age to reach the top of the sport.
Born in California, the winger moved to the UK to pursue his footballing dreams, having spells with Chelsea and Southampton. He also attended the prestigious Bradfield College, which costs £58,000 per year.
He later signed for Leicester City, but despite being with the Foxes for four years, he never made a senior appearance, reports the Mirror.
After leaving the UK, Faiq played for Marítimo in Portugal before moving to Thailand where he played for Chonburi FC and then Ratchaburi. He has also earned six caps for Brunei.
Ratchaburi are now reportedly planning to release Faiq, and DPMM, who returned to the M-League this year, have expressed their interest in signing him.
Despite his vast wealth, Faiq has consistently demonstrated a drive that is perhaps rather uncommon amongst those born into extraordinary privilege. Bolkiah trained at Chelsea’s youth academy alongside players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham and Ruben Sammut, with the latter disclosing just how humble he remained in his footballing aspirations.
Speaking previously to The Athletic, Sammut said: “You would never ever have thought he was something like the 12th in line to the throne. You would not have thought of him as royalty.
“He was a humble guy, trying every day like every academy player. We used to joke he didn’t need to play football but he wanted to play because he loved football.”
Following the majority of 2024 spent recovering from injury after a collision with a Police Tero defender, Faiq posted on Instagram with a message of determination – once more displaying his remarkable drive
“Thank you for all your kind messages,” he wrote regarding the setback. “I am devastated with the news I received a few days ago. But I will stay positive and work hard to come back stronger inshallah.”
His perseverance proves quite impressive given that his uncle, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 79, reportedly possesses a fortune of approximately £37bn. Faiq stands to inherit wealth that will render him roughly 40 times wealthier than David and Victoria Beckham, whose joint net worth totals £500m.
Faiq’s impending fortune is also 30 times greater than the £600m net worth of Al-Nassr star Ronaldo. The Brunei Royal family’s vast assets include oil and gas reserves, as well as luxury properties.
The Sultan first ascended to the throne as the 29th Sultan of Brunei in 1968 and is now recognised as the longest-reigning monarch globally, following Queen Elizabeth’s passing in 2022.
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His primary residence is the Istana Nurul Iman, located in Brunei, which holds the title for the world’s largest palace, boasting an impressive 1,788 rooms. Under his reign, Brunei has achieved its status as one of the globe’s wealthiest nations.