Why is Ed Sheeran an Ipswich fan? Pop star attends PL game against Man United

Sheeran cheers on Ipswich as they look to upset United in Ruben Amorim's first game in charge of the Premier League.

Portman Road, home of Ipswich Town, may not have the same glamor as other sporting venues around the world, but it's good enough for pop superstar Ed Sheeran, who will be in the stands for Sunday's match against Manchester United.

The reason why Ed Sheeran supports Ipswich

Sheeran is undoubtedly the Tractor Boys' best-known fan and even bought a minority stake (1.4%) in the club in August, such is his devotion to them. The 33-year-old was born in Yorkshire in northern England, but moved to Suffolk, the county in which Ipswich is located in the east of the country, at the age of three.

Speaking to the club's website after his takeover was announced, Sheeran said: “I am very excited to have bought a small percentage of my home town football club. It is every football fan's dream to own the club they support, and I am so grateful for this opportunity.

“I have lived in Suffolk since I was three years old and although I travel the world and sometimes feel like an outsider in the big cities, Suffolk and Ipswich have always made me feel part of the community and protected.

“This is just me putting some money into the club I love and them returning the gesture, so please don't come at me with signing proposals or playing tactics!”

+–=÷× Tour: What does Ipswich's sponsor mean?

Since 2021, Sheeran has sponsored the men's and women's jerseys, which are currently emblazoned with '+–=× Tour' (pronounced Mathematics Tour), the name of the singer-songwriter's current world tour, which kicked off in Dublin in April 2022 and ends in September 2025 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Ipswich were a fixture in the top division in England in the 1970s and 1980s and even won the UEFA Cup in 1981 under future Barcelona manager Bobby Robson.

They had brief spells in the Premier League in the 1990s and early 2000s, but until this season had not played in the league since their relegation at the end of 2001/02.