Ed Sheeran becomes shirt sponsor of English club Ipswich

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 file photo, singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran arrives for the screening of the film 'Songwriter' during the 68th edition of the International Film Festival Berlin, Berlinale, in Berlin, Germany. Sheeran is the new shirt sponsor for third-division English soccer club Ipswich, it was announced Thursday, May 6, 2021. The Shape of You singer signed a one-year deal to sponsor the mens and womens shirts next season. The 30-year-old musician grew up in the area and is a longtime Ipswich fan.(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, file) (Markus Schreiber, Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

IPSWICH – English singer Ed Sheeran is the new shirt sponsor for third-division soccer club Ipswich.

The longtime Ipswich fan, known for songs such as “Shape of You" and “Perfect,” signed a one-year deal Thursday to sponsor the men's and women's shirts next season.

Recommended Videos



"The football club is a big part of the local community and this is my way of showing my support," said the 30-year-old musician, who grew up in the area. “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.”

Ipswich is in the middle of the standings in League One with two games remaining, while the women's team plays in the fourth division.

An American consortium recently bought the club and has pledged to invest in order to earn promotion to the second division.

“With the new owners from the U.S. coming in, there are sure to be exciting times ahead for Ipswich fans, including myself,” Sheeran said.

The new logo features mathematical symbols and the word “TOUR." His albums use mathematical symbols as names.

England captain Harry Kane is the shirt sponsor of fourth-division club Leyton Orient, his former club. The shirts carry messages of thanks to frontline workers battling the coronavirus pandemic. The Tottenham striker announced Thursday that Leyton Orient's home shirt next season will honor a charity for the country's military veterans.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports