KSI, the YouTube star, has agreed a deal in principle to join the ownership group at Dagenham & Redbridge.
The content creator will take a minority 20 per cent stake in the sixth-tier club. The proposed deal still needs to be approved by the National League.
KSI’s Vision for Dagenham & Redbridge
In a post on X, KSI expressed his excitement: “I’m so excited to start this journey. It’s gonna be a rollercoaster for sure but I hope to bring Dagenham and Redbridge … back to the glory days. For those of you that are OG fans (Race to Division One), you’ll know that this is a full circle moment for me. So join me on this exhilarating adventure and I’ll see you all at Victoria road this Saturday! I’ll be streaming too haha”.
In a video accompanying his post on X, KSI said: “I am buying Dagenham & Redbridge football club. Just the idea of it, just excites me so much.
“Years ago I saw the excitement, the happiness, the joy … I want to bring that back and then surpass it. With this club, I want to do the unthinkable. I want to take Dagenham & Redbridge to the Premier League.
“It’s obviously going to take time but I’d say realistic stage is to get out of this league and entering the National League.
Ownership Changes at the Club
Dagenham & Redbridge have seen their ownership group overhauled over recent months. The east London club were purchased by U.S.-based investment consortium Happy Fan Group last month, with former player Anwar Uddin taking over as chairman.
The arrival of KSI is the group’s highest-profile move.
KSI’s Background
- The 32-year-old Londoner, born Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, founded his YouTube channel in 2009.
- He is a founding member of YouTube group the Sidemen.
- He is a professional boxer who has fought Logan Paul and Tommy Fury.
His music has also amassed over one billion streams in the United Kingdom.
The content creator has also appeared as a guest judge on Britain’s Got Talent, founded his own record label, and runs a kids’ lunch company with fellow YouTubers Paul and Mr Beast. He is an Arsenal fan.
Tony Fernandes’ Interest
AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes, who owned a stake in Queens Park Rangers between 2011 and 2023, serving as the club’s chairman until 2018, has also held discussions over a separate deal for a minority stake of his own.
Dagenham & Redbridge, KSI, and Fernandes have been contacted for comment.