The 30-year-old has signed a one-year deal to sponsor the men’s and women’s teams. The agreement could end up being the one that helps the League One team gain prominence following a decade of struggle on and off the pitch.
Ed Sheeran, a four-time Grammy winner, lives in Suffolk and has agreed to a deal for the initial half of 2021-22 season. As a result, “+-=÷x” followed by the word ‘Tour’ will be seen on the shirts of Ipswich Town. +, x, and ÷ (read as Plus, Multiply, and Divide) are the first three albums of Ed Sheeran’s career, and when asked about what the logo on the front of the shirt means, the singer-songwriter said,
“All will be revealed in time.”
Sheeran is a big fan of the club and has followed their football for a long time. He also added that this was his way of giving back to the community. “The football club is a big part of the local community, and this is my way of showing my support.
“I have always enjoyed my trips to Portman Road and I’m looking forward to going back there as soon as supporters are allowed into stadiums again,” he said.
Ipswich Town have little hope of making it to the season’s play-offs after what was an extremely disappointing campaign in the third tier of English football. However, the sponsorship with Sheeran is a welcome move that arrives a month after an American consortium bought the club for GBP 40 million.
“With the new owners from the US coming in, there are sure to be exciting times ahead for Ipswich fans, including myself,”
Sheeran added.
The Shape of You star played four major gigs in Ipswich at the end of his recent Divide Tour in 2019, which ended up being the best-selling album tour of all time. He was the second most-streamed Spotify music artist of the decade and is one of the richest musicians in the UK.
Town’s director of sales, Rosie Richardson, said:
“We are obviously thrilled that Ed has agreed to become our shirt sponsor next season.
“I have worked with Ed and his management team on various initiatives over the years and welcomed Ed and his guests to Portman Road for many games.
“He has shown his support for his hometown in lots of ways and this is another example of that.
“We look forward to seeing Ed – and every other supporter – back at Portman Road next season,” she concluded.
