Ed Sheeran Receives Squad Number at Ipswich Town — Fans React

When Ipswich Town announced their latest squad list with player numbers, fans were surprised to see “Sheeran 17” listed. This wasn’t an error—supporters soon learned the pop star Ed Sheeran, a lifelong Ipswich fan, had been assigned a squad number once again.

Sheeran, 34, who holds a minority stake in the club, has been given the number 17 in four out of the last five seasons. The club also sponsored his merchandise in recent years, and he acquired a 1.4% share in Ipswich last year, though he is not involved in day-to-day management.

When the news surfaced, social media reactions were mixed. Some fans criticized the ongoing joke, calling it “woke garbage” or expressing frustration with what they viewed as pandering. Others found the tradition amusing, with one commenting, “About time you gave that Sheeran a game.”

Sheeran himself expressed excitement about his continued association with the club. In a social media post, he shared, “Really excited to announce I bought a small percentage of my hometown football club. It’s a dream of any fan to own part of the team they support.” He emphasized that his involvement is purely financial, and he is not participating in club decisions.

Throughout his involvement, Ipswich has experienced ups and downs, including relegation to the Championship last season. The team aims to bounce back, starting their campaign with an away game against Birmingham.

Ed Sheeran has been assigned the number 17 at Ipswich in multiple seasons.

He acquired a minority stake in August 2024 and has been a front-of-shirt sponsor since 2021.