Ed Sheeran has been included in Ipswich Town's squad list for the forthcoming League One season and given the No 17 shirt after agreeing to sponsor the club for the current campaign.
The popular British pop artist, 30, is a life-long fan of the club and the sponsorship deal announced in May will see his album covers appear on the Tractor Boys' shirts for the entire season.
'This is bonkers really, isn't it!' said Sheeran to the club's official website. 'When Ipswich told me I thought they were joking but I love the idea.
'I think this is going be a great season and I'm honoured to be a part of it. I just hope this squad number is only ceremonial because I want to see us promoted and that's not going to happen if I'm playing!'
The four-time Grammy winner still lives in Suffolk despite his global success and is a regular at the club's Portman Road ground for home matches.
Sheeran will be now eligible to play for Ipswich in the League One season, with the Suffolk side one of the contenders for promotion to the Championship. The club were taken over by an American consortium recently as they look to rise back up the leagues.
The Tractor Boys begin their new League One season at home to Morecambe on Saturday, which is a 3pm kick-off at Portman Road.
Ipswich chief executive Mark Ashton added: 'Having Ed involved is fantastic for the football club.
'We saw pictures of him wearing the 17 shirt when he was at the club to perform his Euro 2020 TikTok concert so Paul and I spoke about it and we agreed to offer Ed the chance of that squad number.
'It's our way of thanking him for his support and we look forward to welcoming him to Portman Road this season.'
It was announced in May that Sheeran would be the title shirt sponsor for the League One side for the 2021-22 campaign.
The logo which will be seen on the front of both the men's and women's shirts next season compromises of +, x and ÷, which are the titles of Sheeran's first three albums, as well as a minus sign and an equals sign.
After the sponsorship deal was announced he said: 'The Football 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.
'I'm looking forward to going back there as soon as supporters are allowed into stadiums again.
'With the new owners from the US coming in, there are sure to be exciting times ahead for Ipswich fans, including myself. Hopefully we can stop being slightly on the huh!'
The singer also shared a photo of himself wearing an Ipswich kit as a youngster alongside the caption: 'This bloke is the news sponsor of @ipswichtown football club. Do well'.
The sponsorship of his boyhood club is not the only impact Sheeran has had on English football this summer.
On June 23, the artist put on a special concert for the England squad during their Euro 2020 campaign to calm the nerves before their last-16 tie with Germany in June, which the Three Lions won 2-0.
Sheeran is a friend of England captain Harry Kane, who asked the pop artist in April of this year to come into the Three Lions camp to perform a concert on the squad's day off from training.