June 28, (THEWILL) – In a remarkable move, Crystal Palace striker, Wilfried Zaha and rapper, Stormzy, have joined resources to acquire Croydon Athletic, a ninth-tier English football club, as announced by the club on Tuesday.
Both Zaha and Stormzy share a deep connection with Croydon, having spent their formative years in the London borough. They have partnered with Danny Young, former head of player care at Palace, to complete the purchase.
The consortium, comprising Zaha, Stormzy, and Young, will take charge of the football club they grew up supporting. The club’s statement highlighted that the completion of the deal is subject to regulatory and governance procedures. The trio is enthusiastic about nurturing a community asset in the borough that offered them their own chances. They aim to involve the entire community in this thrilling journey.
The trend of celebrities investing in football clubs is on the rise. Notable examples include Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who took over Wrexham in November 2020 and have since celebrated the club’s promotion to the English Football League after a 15-year hiatus.
Additionally, actor Michael B. Jordan has invested in Bournemouth, while NBA legend, LeBron James, holds a stake in Liverpool.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
