Stormzy and Wilfried Zaha team up to buy local side AFC Croydon

Stormzy and Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha have announced they will team up to buy a non-league side in South London, the area where both grew up.

The pair will join forces with former Crystal Palace head of player care Danny Young to buy AFC Croydon, who currently play in the ninth-tier of English football.

Announcing the deal, AFC Croydon said that contracts had been agreed for the sale, with the trio vowing to “own, operate and develop their childhood hometown football club”.

A statement explained: “Whilst completion is subject to legislative and governance procedures, the three consortium members are excited about developing a community asset in the borough that gave them their own opportunities.

“They hope to take the entire community on this exciting journey with them.”

They are two of the latest high profile faces to take over a lowly football side after actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought AFC Wrexham in September 2020 and oversaw their promotion to the English Football League for the first time in fifteen years.

More recently, US star Michael B. Jordan also became a part owner of AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.

While AFC Croydon are a considerable distance below that level, they’re still hoping for promotion from the Combined Counties League Premier Division South when their new season starts this summer.

Zaha tweeted: “Let the journey begin.”

Elsewhere, Stormzy recently told Rolling Stone UK about his plans for new music and performing his first ever virtual gig.