One of the world's most famous YouTubers, KSI, has announced himself as a shareholder in National League football club Dagenham & Redbridge. It comes one week after former England international Andy Carroll was confirmed as a shareholder.
KSI, real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, is a 32-year-old social media personality who has recently appeared as a judge on Britain's Got Talent. He also dipped his toe into boxing, having high-profile bouts with Logan Paul and Tommy Fury.
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However, he's now turned his hand to football ownership, as KSI will now be a part-owner of the east London club, which has been overhauled since being purchased by a U.S.-based investment consortium, Happy Fan Group, last month.
KSI
He took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to post a three-minute video explaining his decision and eagerness to get involved with the football club. Along with the video was the caption:
"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."
According to The Athletic, the YouTuber will take a minority 20 per cent stake in the club. The National League still have to approve the deal for the sixth-tier outfit.
Former Queen's Park Rangers owner and chairman, Tony Fernandes, is also reported to have expressed interest in a separate deal for a stake of his own.
KSI Has Big Ambitions For Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge
In the accompanying video, the 32-year-old explained his affinity with the club, as they featured in one of his old FIFA series on YouTube. He outlined the lofty ambitions he holds for the team, saying:
"I want the place to be rocking. I want it to be an event whenever you come here. 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. With this club, I want to do the unthinkable. I want to take Dagenham & Redbridge to the Premier League."
KSI is already looking to bring people together and get to work, adding: "I have some additions to really take it to the next level and I want to build a community. Everyone here is fantastic, hard-working people and I want to be the man who can affect things on the pitch as well as off it."