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The footballer known as 'the world's richest player', Faiq Bolkiah, is set to switch clubs.
The former Chelsea academy player is on the brink of joining India's M-League with Brunei outfit, DPMM FC, in 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 that of the Ratchaburi FC player, who is the heir to a £15 billion fortune.
Being the son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah and nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, Faiq, 27, didn't need to pursue a career in football for financial reasons. However, he demonstrated a strong determination from an early age to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
Born in California, the winger moved to the UK to pursue his footballing dreams, having spells with Chelsea, Arsenal and Southampton. He also attended the prestigious Bradfield College, which costs £58,000 per year.
Subsequently, he signed for Leicester City, but despite spending four years with the Foxes, he never made a senior appearance, as per the Mirror.
After leaving the UK, Faiq had stints with Marítimo in Portugal and then moved to Thailand where he played for Chonburi FC before transferring 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 vast wealth, Faiq has consistently demonstrated a drive that is often absent amongst those born into extraordinary privilege.
Faiq trained alongside the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham and Ruben Sammut during his time at Chelsea's academy, with the latter highlighting just how humble he remained in pursuing his footballing dreams.
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 a lengthy spell on the sidelines throughout much of 2024 after a collision with a Police Tero defender, Faiq posted on Instagram with a message of determination - once more showcasing his remarkable motivation.
"Thank you for all your kind messages," he wrote 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."
Such resilience proves particularly noteworthy given his uncle, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 79, reportedly possesses a fortune of approximately £37bn. Faiq stands to inherit wealth that would make him roughly 40 times wealthier than David and Victoria Beckham, whose joint net worth sits at £500m.
Faiq's impending fortune is also 30 times greater than the £600m net worth of Al-Nassr star Ronaldo, with the Brunei Royal family's vast assets including 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 world's longest-reigning monarch following the passing of Queen Elizabeth 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 leadership, Brunei has achieved its status as one of the globe's most affluent nations.
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