Ex-Chelsea star dubbed world’s richest footballer set to join new club

Faiq Bolkiah, who was once in the Chelsea academy and carries the title of ‘world’s richest footballer’ is set to join a brand new team during the January transfer window

The footballer known as ‘the world’s richest player’ is on the brink of joining a new club. Faiq Bolkiah, formerly of the Chelsea academy, is set to sign with Brunei side, DPMM FC, in India’s M-League during the January transfer window.

Despite not being a household name, Faiq’s financial status in the sport surpasses those considered football royalty. The wealth of Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and Lionel Messi pales in comparison to Faiq’s, with the Ratchaburi FC player being the heir to a staggering £15 billion fortune.

As the son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah and nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, Faiq, 27, didn’t need to succeed as a footballer to secure his livelihood. However, Bolkiah demonstrated a strong resolve to reach the pinnacle of the sport from an early age.

Born in California, the winger moved to the UK to pursue his football career, having spells with Chelsea and Southampton. He also attended the prestigious Bradfield College, which costs £58,000 per year.

Later, he signed for Leicester City, and 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 heading to Thailand where he played for Chonburi FC and then moved to Ratchaburi. He has also earned six caps for Brunei.

Ratchaburi are now poised to release Faiq, and DPMM, who returned to the M-League this year, have shown interest in signing him.

Despite his enormous wealth, Faiq has consistently displayed a drive that’s often lacking amongst those born into extraordinary privilege.

Bolkiah trained alongside the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham and Ruben Sammut at Chelsea’s youth academy, with Sammut later revealing just how unassuming the Royal was in pursuing his footballing dreams.

Speaking previously to The Athletic, Sammut remarked: “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 a lengthy spell on the sidelines in 2024 after a collision with a Police Tero defender, Faiq turned to Instagram with a message of determination – once again showcasing his remarkable mental strength.

“Thank you for all your kind messages,” he posted following 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 resilience is particularly striking given that his uncle, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 79, reportedly boasts a fortune of around £37bn.

Faiq stands to inherit wealth that will make him roughly 40 times wealthier than David and Victoria Beckham, whose joint net worth sits at £500m. Faiq’s impending fortune is also a whopping 30 times greater than the £600m net worth of Al-Nassr star Ronaldo.

The Brunei Royal family’s vast assets encompass oil and gas reserves as well as opulent properties.

The Sultan first ascended to the throne as the 29th Sultan of Brunei in 1968 and is now recognised as the longest-serving monarch globally, following Queen Elizabeth’s passing in 2022.

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 most affluent countries.