Seattle Sounders have named National Football League (NFL) star quarterback Russell Wilson and Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella among a group of investors that have purchased a stake in the club, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.

Wilson and Nadella are part of a group of 11 families with direct ties to Seattle that have agreed to take on the stake owned by Joe Roth, who spearheaded the top-flight North American soccer club's successful MLS expansion bid in 2007.

The group is led by former Microsoft executive Terry Myerson and his wife Katie Myerson and features various past and present employees of the US technology giant, including chief financial officer Amy Hood and her husband Max Kleinman, vice president Joe Belfiore and his wife Kristina Belfiore, and former senior executive Soma Somasegar and his wife Akila Somasegar.

The Myersons are joined by Grammy-winning singer Ciara, who is Wilson's wife, and hip-hop star Macklemore. Among the other investors are Twilio chief product officer Chee Chew, ex-Fox Sports executive David Nathanson, former Pandora chief executive Brian McAndrews and Mark Agne, previously managing partner at Softbank Investment Advisors.

The new group of partners join majority owner Adrian Hanauer, Drew Carey and Jody Allen. It has also been announced that Hanauer Fútbol has upped its overall investment in the franchise.

"Today we begin another chapter in the story of Seattle Sounders FC, this proud club that means so much to so many people," said Hanauer. "We are doubling down on this community and growing our local roots even deeper.

"Sounders FC was born right here in Seattle, and for more than 40 years, the club has forged a meaningful legacy that is deep and far-reaching. Today's news is a testament to what our community has accomplished, as 11 new families have joined with the broader Sounders family as fans and invested stewards of our club."