Sheeran bought a 1.4% stake in the club in August 2024 and was their main shirt sponsor from 2021 until the current season. Now, after the squad numbers were revealed controversy has struck as fans and pundits react to a non player owning a number at the club.
In every season, bar their one in the Premier League, since Sheeran's involvement at Portman Road began in 2021, he has been given the number 17 shirt and each time the numbers have been released the same reaction has come out.
As reported by the BBC, rule M.1. in the Premier League handbook states that squad numbers can only be allocated to members of a first-team squad. However, Ipswich did not have a designated number 17 during their season back in the top-flight.
Speaking on Instagram when the news broke, Sheeran said: “Really excited to announce that I 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 lol.”
As fans reacted badly on social media, he responded to one TikTok post, stating that his shirt number does generate a lot of money for Ipswich.
“I bet you're fun at parties bruvva. I didn't ask for it btw they offered back in 2021 and it's been this since. The shirts sell a fair bit so brings in profit to the club. It's really not that deep.”