Former Man Utd winger links up with Stormzy to buy London club in passion project

Former Manchester United star Wilfried Zaha has teamed up with Red Devils superfan and BRIT Award-winning rapper Stormzy as part of a consortium to take over non-league side AFC Croydon Athletic.

The feelgood deal was confirmed by the club on Tuesday with its new famous owners hitting the big time having grown up in Croydon themselves. Crystal Palace man Zaha and Stormzy will look to run the Combined Counties League Premier South Division outfit as a passion project and the takeover is subject to FA and league approval.

The Palace man and 'Shut Up' star are joined by a third member of the consortium in Danny Young, who stood down from his role as the kit manager and head of player care at Selhurst Park.

Announcing the deal, AFC Croydon said: "A three person consortium comprised of Wilfried Zaha, Stormzy and Danny Young has exchanged contracts with the existing ownership of AFC Croydon Athletic to acquire the assets of the club.

The consortium will own, operate and develop their childhood hometown football club.

"Whilst completion is subject to legislative and governance procedures, the three consortium members are excited about developing a community asset in the borough that gave them their own opportunities.

"They hope to take the entire community on this exciting journey with them.

"There will be more updates to come from the consortium in due course on completion of the transaction. In the meantime, there will be no further comment."

Zaha, who has been pals with rapper Stormzy for a number of years, celebrated the news on his personal social media accounts and wrote: "May the journey begin."

AFC Croydon was founded in 2012 when Croydon Athletic withdrew from the Isthmian League and finished 15th last season.

Zaha was born in the Ivory Coast but moved to Thornton Heath in Croydon with his eight siblings at the age of four and attended schools in the area. The winger joined the Crystal Palace academy at the age of 12. His contract at the club is due to expire this summer.

Meanwhile, Stormzy was born and raised in Croydon and has opened up about being on the verge of getting expelled from local schools as a youngster.