### Ed Sheeran's Unexpected Role in Soccer Recruitment

In an unexpected turn of events, British pop star Ed Sheeran took on a new role this summer while preparing to join Taylor Swift on stage. Renowned for his music, Sheeran received a call from his favorite soccer team, Ipswich Town, seeking his assistance in signing a new player. Sheeran is more than just a fan and investor of the club—he's now actively involved in their recruitment efforts.

Ed Sheeran holds a minority ownership stake in Ipswich Town, a team that has recently climbed back into the English Premier League for the first time since 2002. He was asked by Ipswich CEO Mark Ashton to help persuade a prospective player to join the club. Notably, the player in question happened to be a fan of Sheeran's music. On the day of his concert with Taylor Swift at Wembley Stadium on August 15, Sheeran took a moment to jump on a Zoom call with the player from the training ground.

Although Ashton did not disclose the player's identity during a Soccerex industry event in Miami, he confirmed that the player has been performing well since joining Ipswich, even earning the title of top scorer in the Championship last season. This hint strongly suggests that the player is Sammie Szmodics, who was signed from Blackburn a day after the Wembley concert.

Sheeran's influence appears to have had a positive impact. Szmodics, an Ireland international, recently posted a photograph of himself with Sheeran on Instagram after scoring an impressive overhead kick in Ipswich's 2-1 victory over Tottenham. He captioned the photo with enthusiasm, highlighting the win and his connection with Sheeran.

Beyond his contributions to the recruitment efforts, Sheeran has been a long-time supporter and sponsor of Ipswich Town since 2021. His involvement grants him access to an executive box at Portman Road stadium, where he is frequently seen cheering on his team.

This weekend, Ipswich Town is set to host Manchester United in a match that will mark Ruben Amorim's first game in charge of United. Reflecting on Sheeran's multifaceted role, Ashton praised him at the Soccerex event, stating, "He's a local man, a global superstar, sponsor of the football club, now a shareholder and now officially a part of our recruitment team."