KSI has announced he has purchased former English Football League club Dagenham & Redbridge F.C., outlining an ambitious long-term plan to take the side to the Premier League.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer and Britain’s Got Talent judge, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, revealed the takeover in a three-minute video posted to social media on Tuesday afternoon. The montage included clips of him playing as the club during his FIFA streaming series and footage of the team in action.
“I’m so excited to start this journey,” he wrote. “It’s gonna be a rollercoaster for sure but I hope to bring Dagenham and Redbridge (@Dag_RedFC) 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.”
Formed in 1992, the East London club plays its home matches at Victoria Road. The Daggers were relegated from the National League last season and currently sit 13th in the National League South.
KSI, a lifelong Arsenal F.C. supporter, acknowledged the surreal nature of the move. He said “It’s surreal, bro, out of this world. The idea of it excites me so much. Years ago, I saw the excitement, the happiness, the joy. I want to bring that back and then surpass it. I want the place to be pumping, I want it to be rocking, I want it to be an event whenever you come here.”
He added: “Playing a video game and owning a football club is very different, I know that, but with Race to Division One, it was a journey. It was hard, but in the end, I did it.
“With this club, I want to do the unthinkable. I want to take Dagenham and Redbridge to the Premier League. It’s obviously going to take time, but I’d say the realistic goal is getting out of this league and entering the National League. We need to improve the team, make some additions that really take it to another level, and I want to build the community.”
Seeking to reassure supporters, he said: “You guys have been here way longer than I have, and I know to some of you it might be scary, me being one of the owners, but I am reachable.
“You can literally tweet me, and I will see it. You can let your frustrations out to me, or celebrate with me; I’m approachable. What owner do you know that can see all the fans like this? That’s me, bro. I’m a fighter. I’ve broken my nose, I’ve broken my hand, I’ve broken my thumb. I’ve been in tough fights, but I keep going no matter what. With the Daggers, I’m gonna keep fighting. I’m gonna do everything I can to make sure we succeed. I’m just ready to get started.”
KSI joins a growing list of high-profile figures investing in lower-league football. Ryan Reynolds famously bought Wrexham A.F.C. and has overseen their rapid rise up the English football pyramid. Online reaction to KSI’s announcement ranged from excitement to scepticism, with some fans joking that real-life football would prove more challenging than FIFA Ultimate Team.
With more than 50 million followers across social media, KSI’s arrival is expected to bring increased visibility to the club as it looks to rebuild following relegation and chart a path back up the divisions.
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