Tems becomes the latest high-profile addition to join SDFC less than a day after Issa Rae joined the club's ownership group
Tems joins San Diego FC as a club partner through her company The Leading VibeShe becomes the first African female to be involved in MLS ownershipSDFC kick off their debut MLS season against LA GalaxyGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images EntertainmentWHAT HAPPENED
San Diego FC, set to make their Major League Soccer debut in 2025, have announced Grammy award-winning Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer Temilade Openiyi as the latest addition to their ownership group. The singer, known professionally as Tems, joins as a club partner through her company The Leading Vibe, bringing her global influence and passion for community empowerment to the expansion team.
The 29-year-old becomes the fifth high profile name in San Diego’s ownership group, joining actor and producer Issa Rae, footballer Juan Mata, MLB All-Star Manny Machado and retired Navy Seal Jocko Willink. Tom Penn, CEO of San Diego FC, welcomed Tems to the team, “Tems is an extraordinary artist and cultural force worldwide,” Penn said.
“We are honored to have her join our Club and bring her visionary perspective to San Diego FC. Her passion for empowering the next generation aligns perfectly with our mission, and her commitment to creating opportunities for young talent domestically and globally reflects the core values of Right to Dream. We also look forward to creating meaningful connections between the music world and San Diego FC, uniting communities through the shared power of culture and sport.”
AdvertisementTHE ANNOUCEMENT FROM SAN DIEGOTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Tems rose to popularity after being featured on Wizkid’s 2020 single “Essence” but she made her debut in 2018 with "Mr Rebel," a song that she produced herself. Her breakthrough came soon after with her single “Try Me” and in 2020 she was chosen as one of “ten artists to watch” that year. In 2022, she became the first African female artist to feature at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 when she featured Future's "Wait for U" alongside Drake.
She also covered Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” for the Marvel movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, which earned her Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations as her popularity continued to grow. The 29-year-old also released her first studio album, “Born in the Wild” in 2024 which was met with critical and commercial acclaim.
Tems revealed that her decision to join the club’s ownership group was because she wants to build something special in San Diego, a ‘city that thrives on diversity and innovation’.
“I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a Club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community,” said Tems. “Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.”
San Diego FCWHAT LIES AHEAD FOR SAN DIEGO FC?
The newly created MLS side are set to make their debut in the American top their in the 2025 season and are thus currently on their preseason tour across the country. The expansion side will face New York City FC, Portland Timbers, and the New York Red Bulls in warm-up friendlies before they face the LA Galaxy in their 2025 season opener on Feb. 23.
