Media and entertainment group Global has acquired a majority stake in Gary Neville’s sports media group The Overlap.
The Overlap has become one of the world’s most popular football and sports destinations since launching in 2021, with more than 38 million monthly views on YouTube, and it recently announced it had achieved 2.2 billion views across all platforms in 2025.
The Overlap spans sports including football, rugby and cricket and is home to fan debates, exclusive interviews, and the smash-hit series Stick to Football. The content is typically long-form conversations with big names in football, politics, business and world sport – including David Beckham, Rory McIlroy and Tyson Fury.
Stick to Football includes Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Ian Wright and Roy Keane; Fan Debate is with Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes; and Stick To Cricket, launched in May 2025, is with Sir Alastair Cook, Michael Vaughan, David Lloyd and Phil Tufnell.
Described as a strategic partnership, the new company will be co-chaired by Gary Neville and Global Group CEO Simon Pitts, with Scott Melvin as lead executive director.
Global says it will use its platforms, relationships and marketing power to support the growth of The Overlap, from hosting and distribution to data-driven insights and ad sales.
The news follows the launch of Global Studios, described as a ‘powerhouse for content creators’ with production facilities, multi-platform distribution and the marketing muscle of Global’s radio, digital and outdoor network.
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“The Overlap started as an idea that we thought people might like and we went for it,” said Neville. “What has happened since then has been a great journey and it’s a team that I love working with and I’m incredibly proud to be a part of.
“We never thought of it as a business, we just wanted to create something that people loved and would come back to watch every week.
“We see huge growth potential for The Overlap and have spent the last few months in a strategic investment process and are delighted to have found the perfect partner in Global to power us forward and create ‘The Overlap Network’ with the aim of becoming a world-leading football and sports media platform.”
As part of the strategic investment process, Miroma Group has exited from The Overlap.
“The Overlap is one of the UK’s most successful and dynamic sports entertainment brands, with a hugely exciting growth plan.Gary and Scott have done an extraordinary job building The Overlap and we’re thrilled to welcome them and their fantastic team to Global as we embark on this next phase of growth together,” said Pitts.
“We want Global Studios to be the home of the best audio and video brands on the planet and The Overlap’s ambition, creativity and unrivalled connection with fans is a perfect fit.
“The acquisition of a majority stake in The Overlap accelerates our growth strategy across video, podcasts and branded entertainment, and strengthens Global’s position at the heart of the sports conversation following the recent launch of Sport by Global.”