International Singing Sensation Tems Makes History

Temilade Openiyi, known globally as Tems, the Nigerian Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter, has become a co-owner (club partner) of the Major League Soccer (MLS) team San Diego FC.

She is the first African woman to hold ownership stakes in an MLS club.

Tems acquired her stake through her company The Leading Vibe, in partnership with Pave Investments, an African private investment firm. San Diego FC is a newly established MLS team (founded in 2023) set to debut in the league in the 2025 season.

Her involvement places her alongside a diverse group of high-profile owners, including actress Issa Rae, former World Cup winner Juan Mata, retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, and MLB All-Star Manny Machado. Tems has said she’s excited to help grow the club and use football as a way to support community, culture, and youth development, aligning with initiatives like the Right to Dream Academy.

Major news outlets have widely reported on this achievement, describing Tems as the first African female to join and own part of a U.S. professional football club’s ownership group.