Ipswich Town fan Ed Sheeran has laid out some of his wealth to buy a small stake in the club following their promotion to the Premier League.
The Tractor Boys will kick off their first top-flight campaign for 22 years at home to Liverpool in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off having achieved back-to-back promotions to rise from League One to the Premier League.
Musician Sheeran has been the club's shirt sponsor throughout that phenomenal rise, and has now purchased a 1.4% stake in the club. In return, he will have 'long-term use of an executive box at Portman Road stadium, which he has personalised ahead of the 2024/25 season.'
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Ipswich were at pains to point out that Sheeran has not been appointed to the club board and that his investment in club co-owners Gamechanger 20 is 'a passive and minority investment only'.
Sheeran said in a club statement: “I am really excited to have bought a small percentage of my hometown football club. 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!
Ipswich have however made some changes to the make-up of their board, with former midfielder Matt Holland joining the board of directors having previously served as a club ambassador.
Joining Holland is former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry, while Florida Panthers co-owner Travis Viola has joined the Gamechanger 20 board. The pair were part of a consortium that purchased 44% of Gamechanger earlier this year.
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