Tractor Boy Ed’s footie shirt deal

A YOUNG Ed Sheeran proudly shows off his Ipswich Town footie kit long before he made it as a multi-millionaire, chart-topping pop star.

But now he’s been there, done that – and even got the team shirt.

Ed, now 30, yesterday announced he has agreed a one-year shirt sponsorship deal with his beloved Tractor Boys by posting this sweet childhood photo online.

The star added the caption: “This bloke is the new sponsor of @ipswichtown football club.”

The deal means the side’s players will wear his message on their shirts throughout the 2021-22 season.

The logo consists of the word “tour” along with mathematical symbols, including those for plus, multiply and divide – the titles of three of the singer’s No1 albums.

Yorkshire-born Ed, who has topped the singles charts nine times with hits including Beautiful People, became a fan of the beautiful game when he moved to Suffolk as a youngster.

The star, who still lives in the county, 16 miles from Ipswich, said: “The club is a big part of the local community and this is my way of showing my support.

“I have always enjoyed my trips to Portman Road and I’m looking forward to going back there as soon as supporters are allowed into stadiums.”

Ipswich has recently been bought for £30million by American investors.

Ed, who has a £200million fortune, said: “With the new owners from the US coming in, there are sure to be exciting times ahead for Ipswich fans, including myself.”

He added: “Hopefully we can stop being sloightly on the huh!”

That’s Suffolk speak for something that’s skewed – a reference to the club’s spiral down from the Premier to League One.

Loyal Ed’s support has never waned and he and wife Cherry are often in the stands at Ipswich games, inset.

The big question now is what does that shirt message actually mean? Ipswich director of sales, Rosie Richardson, said: “All will be revealed in time.”

But early rumours suggest Ed’s deal will coincide with a fourth world tour.