Grime artist Stormzy and Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha are set to become the latest celebrities to own a non-league football team.

They are part of a three-man consortium who will own AFC Croydon Athletic, a south London side who play in the ninth-tier of English football.

The club announced contracts had been exchanged with the existing owners, and that the consortium will “own, operate and develop their childhood hometown football club”.

A statement added: “Whilst completion is subject to legislative and governance procedures, the three consortium members are excited about developing a community asset in the borough that gave them their own opportunities.

“They hope to take the entire community on this exciting journey with them.”

They will be hoping to promote the team from the Combined Counties League Premier Division South when the season starts later this summer.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Read more:
Lewis Capaldi announces break after emotional Glastonbury set
Meghan ‘not a great talent’, says top Hollywood agent

Zaha, 30, was born in Ivory Coast but raised in the borough, and is involved in community projects in the area through his foundation and academy.

He tweeted: “Let the journey begin.”

Stormzy, 29, the award-winning rapper known for tracks such as Shut Up and Vossi Bop, also hails from the area.

They will be joined by former Crystal Palace head of player care Danny Young.

The trio continue the recent trend of celebrities buying football clubs in England – joining the likes of Michael B Jordan and Ryan Reynolds.

Jordan, star of the Creed films, is a part owner of AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League, while Reynolds and Rob McElhenney own Wrexham, which has just been promoted to the football league.

The Hollywood actors bought the club in November 2020.

Reynolds and McElhenney also invested in Formula One team Alpine Racing this week.

Related posts:

Former Liverpool star and TV pundit Ian St John dies Scientists identify oldest-known meat-eating dinosaur from UK ‘Distraught’ wife of killer who abused corpses in mortuaries says she left him after arrest COVID-19 booster jabs to be open for booking a month earlier ‘Deeply concerning’: Equality and Human Rights Commission to investigate Yorkshire cricket racism At least 201 babies and nine mothers died as a result of maternity failings at NHS trust Licence for controversial North Sea oil and gas field extended Households told to brace for even steeper energy bills this winter Spam and fish head sales ‘up a third’ as shoppers try to save money Shamima Begum’s mother says her ‘world fell apart’ when she ran away to Syria Mental health trust where patients ‘bullied and mocked’ told to make widespread changes Getaway driver to be sentenced for assisting man who murdered Olivia Pratt-Korbel