Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has teamed up with Manchester United duo Mason Mount and Diogo Dalot to invest in a six-a-side soccer start-up called Baller League, which also involves the YouTuber KSI.

The league was launched in 2023 in Cologne, Germany, but has now moved overseas as well. It will come to the UK in March amid $25m (£20m/€23m) funding with the Daily Mail reporting that Liverpool striker Jota is among the players who are involved.

"Baller League has a lot of crossover with the world of Esports and streaming, concepts I understand well," Jota is quoted as saying. "The twitch numbers achieved in Germany in their first season are a strong indicator of the success Baller can have in the UK and US markets."

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"As a professional football player, I'm always looking for new ways to connect with the game I love," Dalot added. "Baller League offers a fresh perspective, combining football with exciting entertainment. It’s a great opportunity to explore a new side of the sport."

Soccer legends Gary Lineker, John Terry and Luis Figo have been lined up as team managers. Micah Richards, Alan Shearer, Freddie Ljungberg, Jens Lehmann and Robert Pires have also been signed up as coaches. Lineker and Ronaldinho have already appeared in a promotional video for the project last year.

The UK version is set to begin on March 3. It will be streamed live online every Monday until mid-May with 12 teams involved. They will be made up of recently retired professionals, futsal players, free agents and released academy players.

Alongside Esports, which Liverpool ace Jota is already involved in, it is thought this kind of small-sided, shorter version of soccer could appeal to the next generation of fans.