SPOTIFY AND FC BARCELONA PRESS ‘PLAY’ ON ED SHEERAN FOR EL CLÁSICO TAKEOVER
Ed Sheeran to become first male solo pop artist to front the FC Barcelona jersey
Spotify and FC Barcelona are back with their seventh jersey takeover, and the latest artist to feature will be Ed Sheeran, marking the first time a solo male pop artist has fronted the shirt. During El Clásico on Oct 26, FC Barcelona players will wear a version of the iconic blaugrana jersey featuring the logo of Ed Sheeran’s latest studio album Play.
The launch lands as Play becomes Ed’s eighth studio album release. Play is rooted in joy and inspired by the sounds and stories Ed has encountered around the world. That spirit of exploring different cultures and connecting fan communities maps naturally to FC Barcelona’s global footprint. By placing Play on the front of the jersey, the collaboration shines a light on music’s ability to travel across borders and bring people together.
FC Barcelona’s identity has long been defined by youth and an expressive style of play, shaped by La Masia’s next generation. Ed’s own love of football anchors the partnership in something real; a shared belief that creativity, community, and play can move people, on the field and off it.
With over 92 million monthly listeners and fourteen songs in the Billions Club, Ed is one of the most streamed artists on Spotify. The jersey takeovers have become a bi-annual franchise, with Spotify continuing to remove its own logo and hand over the front of the jersey to spotlight artists during the El Clásico games against Real Madrid. The blaugrana jersey has featured the names of superstars such as Drake, Rosalía, The Rolling Stones, KAROL G, Coldplay and Travis Scott.
Ed Sheeran said: “Seeing my new album Play on the Barca shirt is something I’m proud of. I’m a big fan of football and FC Barcelona, and I love that we get to merge the worlds of music and football in such a fun way.”
For the first time, we’re taking a jersey takeover into gaming. On October 23rd, the jersey with Ed’s latest album on it will be available in eFootball™, putting the moment in front of a platform that has over 900 million downloads, letting players worldwide select and play in the jersey in-game.
The release is accompanied by a capsule collection, including a retro jersey inspired by the 2004/05 season, a nod to the period when Ed first began recording music, alongside select pieces that honor both Ed’s creative identity and FC Barcelona’s heritage.
Marc Hazan, Senior Vice President, Partnerships and Marketing, Spotify said: “We’re excited to bring a true fan of the game into an El Clásico moment. Ed’s genuine love of football and being one of the world’s biggest artists made it natural to put Play on the front of the Barça jersey.”
FC Barcelona player Robert Lewandowski said: “Ed’s songs have been part of our dressing-room playlist for a long time, so seeing his new album on the front of our shirt for El Clásico feels really special. Music and football both bring fans together in powerful ways, and I’m proud to represent that connection on the pitch.”
Manel del Río, General Manager of FC Barcelona said: “We are very proud to have an artist like Ed Sheeran featured on our shirt. The logo change has become one of the most iconic moments of every season and exemplifies how the collaboration between FC Barcelona and Spotify continues to successfully explore how far we can go with this union between sport and music.”
The FC Barcelona Hub on Spotify has become a go-to place for fans worldwide. Fans have streamed more than 182 million plays of Barça player matchday playlists, featuring players such as Lamine Yamal, Jules Kounde, Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati, and others, making music an integral part of the pre-match fan experience. FC Barcelona will share a special edition of the matchday playlist, curated by Ed Sheeran.
Inspired by the club’s founding year there will be 1899 limited edition jerseys available to purchase. The Spotify x Ed Sheeran x FC Barcelona jersey and merch collection can be purchased via Barça Official Stores in Spain and online from 10am CEST on Oct 15.
The Play logo from Ed’s new album will feature on the FC Barcelona jersey, which will be worn for the El Clásico match against Real Madrid on Oct 26. FC Barcelona Femení will be wearing the jersey in their Liga F match vs. Granada on Oct 19. You can read more about the partnerships here and check out the FC Barcelona hub on Spotify.
