- Ipswich Town FC is a 145-year-old soccer club that recently earned promotion back to the English Premier League for the first time since 2002.
- Pop star Ed Sheeran has been sponsoring the club’s shirts since 2021, and the lifelong Ipswich Town fan has now purchased a minority stake in the club.
- Sheeran joins the likes of Kevin Durant and Michael B. Jordan, among others, with shares in soccer clubs.
Ipswich Town FC has rejoined the English Premier League after a 22-year absence. They’re going to be in the thick of the battle for this season’s EPL relegation odds, but they’ve received a shot in the arm, at least from a celebrity/exposure standpoint.
The BBC reports that pop star Ed Sheeran has purchased a minority share in Ipswich Town. This makes Sheeran one of the latest celebrities to invest in a soccer club.
Why is Sheeran Investing in Ipswich Town, and Will He Have Any Say?
Sheeran released a statement for the investment announcement:
"It’s any football fan’s dream to be an owner of the club they support, and I feel so grateful for this opportunity.
I have lived in Suffolk since I was three years old and, while I travel the world and sometimes feel like an outsider in big cities, Suffolk and Ipswich have always made me feel part of the community and protected.
It’s such a joy to be a fan of Ipswich Town. There are ups and downs, but football is all about taking the highs and the lows.
I'm not a voting shareholder or a board member, this is just me putting some money into the club I love and them returning the gesture, so please don’t get onto me with signing suggestions or tactics to play.
I'm excited for the Premier League to start this weekend. Let’s go!"
Sheeran, 33, was raised in Framlingham, England, which is a 35-minute drive from Ipswich, and he grew up supporting the club. The BBC report also reveals that Sheeran has been Ipswich’s main shirt sponsor since 2021, and actually designed their third shirt.
Sheeran is purchasing just a 1.4% stake in Ipswich Town, so he really doesn’t have a say in the direction of the club. He’ll get to use an executive box at their stadium, Portman Road, when he goes to matches. It also might lead to a little more exposure for the club, which will help their boost their sponsorship opportunities. However, as Sheeran said, don’t expect to see him on the touchline next to manager Kieran McKenna.
Ipswich Town kicks off their EPL campaign on Saturday, August 17, at home against Liverpool. They’re a massive underdog at soccer betting sites in their return to the Premier League.
Do Any Other Celebrities Have Shares in Soccer Clubs?
Sheeran isn’t the first celebrity to acquire shares in a soccer club. NBA stars LeBron James (Liverpool) and Kevin Durant (Paris Saint-Germain) have shares in big clubs, while Creed and Black Panther actor Michael B. Jordan bought shares in EPL club Bournemouth.
Then of course, you have former soccer star David Beckham, who is a majority owner in Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, and he lured Lionel Messi to join the club, among other players. Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Welsh club Wrexham AFC. They parlayed that into the Emmy-winning documentary Welcome to Wrexham, and have overseen back-to-back promotions.
There will be more celebrities getting in on the action for investing in soccer clubs, no matter how small or large the investment.
