Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, who hails from Croydon, and renowned rapper Stormzy have reached an agreement to acquire AFC Croydon, a non-league football club.
Both Zaha and Stormzy grew up in the South London borough and are joined by former Palace head of player care, Danny Young, in a three-person consortium.
AFC Croydon currently competes in the ninth tier of English football. The club expressed their excitement about the consortium taking ownership and spearheading the development of their childhood hometown football club. However, the completion of the deal is pending legislative and governance procedures.
The consortium members are eager to contribute to the community that provided them with opportunities and aspire to involve the entire community in this thrilling endeavor.
Established in 2012 following the folding of Croydon Athletic, AFC Croydon now looks forward to a promising future under the ownership of Zaha, Stormzy, and Young.
Zaha, aged 30 and originally from the Ivory Coast, is actively engaged in community initiatives and manages the WZ Academy. He began his professional career at Crystal Palace before briefly joining Manchester United in 2013. After a loan spell at Cardiff, Zaha returned to Palace on a season-long loan in August 2014, eventually making his move permanent in February 2015.
Having earned two caps for England, Zaha switched his international allegiance to the Ivory Coast, where he has since won 31 caps. As his contract with Crystal Palace expires at the end of the month, Zaha has been linked with a potential move to Saudi Arabia.
In response to the announcement made by AFC Croydon, Zaha expressed his enthusiasm on Twitter, stating, “May the journey begin.”
Stormzy, known offstage as Michael Owuo Jr., boasts three number one albums and three Brit Awards. The 29-year-old musician, who supports Manchester United, also served as the manager for the England team at Soccer Aid 2023.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about football acquisition
Who is purchasing AFC Croydon?
Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, rapper Stormzy, and former Palace head of player care Danny Young are purchasing AFC Croydon.
What tier of English football does AFC Croydon compete in?
AFC Croydon competes in the ninth tier of English football.
What is the goal of the consortium in acquiring AFC Croydon?
The consortium aims to own, operate, and develop their childhood hometown football club and contribute to the community that provided them with opportunities.
When was AFC Croydon founded?
AFC Croydon was founded in 2012 after the folding of Croydon Athletic.
What is Wilfried Zaha’s background?
Wilfried Zaha was raised in Croydon and began his career at Crystal Palace. He has also represented both England and the Ivory Coast internationally.
What is Stormzy’s involvement in the music industry?
Stormzy, whose real name is Michael Owuo Jr., is a renowned rapper, having achieved three number one albums and winning three Brit Awards.
Is there any speculation regarding Wilfried Zaha’s future?
There have been reports linking Zaha with a potential move away from Crystal Palace, with interest from Saudi Arabia, as his contract is set to expire soon.
How can I stay updated on my favorite Premier League club?
You can download the Sport News Center app and sign up for notifications to receive comprehensive coverage of your preferred Premier League club.
More about football acquisition
- Crystal Palace Official Website
- Wilfried Zaha’s Twitter
- Stormzy’s Official Website
- [AFC Croydon Official Website](insert AFC Croydon official website if available)
- [Sport News Center App](insert link to Sport News Center app if available)
10 comments
Crystal Palace’s very own Zaha investing in a local club? That’s loyalty right there. Hope it brings success to AFC Croydon. Come on you Eagles! #LocalHeroes
Woah, Stormzy and Zaha teaming up to buy a footbal club? Now that’s some serious collab! Can’t wait to see what they do with AFC Croydon. #HipHopMeetsFootball
wilfred zaha n stormzy buyin AFC Croydon?? tht’s amazin! hometown pride! hope they make it big in the ninth tier football! #excited
Zaha and Stormzy making moves in the business world! Excited to see their plans for AFC Croydon. This could be a game-changer for the club. #PowerMoves
AFC Croydon getting new owners, including a rapper? This is like a real-life movie plot! Can’t wait to see how this unfolds. #FootballTakeover
wilfred zaha n stormzy buyin AFC Croydon?? tht’s amazin! hometown pride! hope they make it big in the ninth tier football! #excited
Woah, Stormzy and Zaha teaming up to buy a footbal club? Now that’s some serious collab! Can’t wait to see what they do with AFC Croydon. #HipHopMeetsFootball
Zaha and Stormzy making moves in the business world! Excited to see their plans for AFC Croydon. This could be a game-changer for the club. #PowerMoves
Crystal Palace’s very own Zaha investing in a local club? That’s loyalty right there. Hope it brings success to AFC Croydon. Come on you Eagles! #LocalHeroes
AFC Croydon getting new owners, including a rapper? This is like a real-life movie plot! Can’t wait to see how this unfolds. #FootballTakeover