Ed Sheeran is swapping his guitar for the pitch — at least in spirit — as his new album logo, Play, takes centre stage on Barcelona’s legendary football shirt.
In a jaw-dropping crossover between music and sport, Barça will ditch their usual Spotify logo for Sheeran’s bright new emblem on a limited-edition kit. The blue-and-garnet jersey will make its debut when the women’s team face Granada CF on October 19, before stealing the spotlight again in the men’s fiery El Clásico showdown with Real Madrid.
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The collab marks a first for the Shape of You hitmaker, who now joins an elite list of music stars like Travis Scott, Coldplay, and Drake who’ve had their logos grace the club’s strip. “Seeing my new album on the Barça shirt is unreal,” said Sheeran, 34. “I’ve loved football my whole life, so sharing this with fans around the world means a lot.”
The shirt will be worn by some of football’s brightest stars — from Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí to teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and goal machine Robert Lewandowski, who admitted the squad are already fans. “Ed’s music is always on in our dressing room,” Lewandowski said. “To wear his album on our shirt for El Clásico is something special.”
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Only 1,899 of the match-quality shirts will be made, while just 22 ultra-exclusive tops will bear player autographs. Sheeran himself will personally sign 11 of them for collectors.
Club boss Manel del Río called the move “an iconic moment,” saying Barça is proud to feature such a world-famous artist on their kit. To top it off, the Play logo will appear on a full range of merch — from hoodies and scarves to tees — and fans can even use the new shirt in the eFootball video game from October 23.
Spotify’s vice-president of partnerships, Marc Hazan, said the collaboration was a “natural fit.” “Ed’s a genuine football fan and one of the biggest artists on the planet — what better way to bring music and football together than at El Clásico?”
