Sun Nov 24 17:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Pop Star Sheeran’s Influence Secures Striker for Ipswich Town
**Miami, FL** – Ipswich Town Chairman and CEO Mark Ashton revealed a surprising factor in the club’s acquisition of striker Liam Delap this summer: the influence of pop superstar and club shareholder Ed Sheeran.
Speaking at Soccerex Miami last week, Ashton disclosed that Sheeran, a local Framlingham resident, personally intervened in negotiations to secure Delap’s transfer from Manchester City. The £15 million deal saw Ipswich beat out competition from clubs like Southampton.
“Local man, global superstar, sponsor of the football club, now a shareholder and now officially part of our recruitment team,” Ashton joked. He explained that the club learned Delap was a Sheeran fan and arranged a Zoom call between the two. The call, which took place just before Sheeran took the stage with Taylor Swift, is believed to have been instrumental in persuading Delap to join Ipswich.
While Ashton remained coy about specifics, hinting only that the player “is certainly scoring a few goals,” sources confirm that the player in question was Delap. The successful intervention showcases the unique advantages of having a globally renowned musician as both a sponsor and shareholder.
First Piper 