Ex-Manchester United player Wilfried Zaha teams up with Stormzy to buy football club

Former Manchester United player Wilfried Zaha and renowned rapper Stormzy are joining forces to become co-owners of non-League club AFC Croydon.

The duo, accompanied by former Crystal Palace head of player care Danny Young, form a three-man consortium that has successfully struck a deal to acquire the assets of the south London side. AFC Croydon currently competes in the Combined Counties Football League Premier South Division, which resides in the ninth tier of English football.

In an official announcement, Croydon disclosed that contracts had been exchanged between the existing ownership and the consortium. The statement expressed the group's intention to "own, operate, and develop their childhood hometown football club."

The consortium emphasized their excitement about building a community asset in the borough that played a vital role in shaping their own journeys. Their aim is to involve the entire community in the endeavor.

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Palace winger Zaha, aged 30, was born in Ivory Coast but raised in Croydon. Already deeply involved in various community projects through his charitable foundation and an Academy, Zaha took to Twitter to express his enthusiasm, saying, "May the journey begin."

This significant announcement arises amidst uncertainty regarding Zaha's future as a player. His contract with Palace is due to expire at the end of this month. Although a new deal has been offered to him at Selhurst Park, Zaha has yet to make a commitment.

Consequently, he has been linked with several clubs within the Premier League, as well as potential moves to other European clubs and Saudi Arabia.

Stormzy, aged 29, also hails from Croydon and shares a longstanding friendship with