Non-league football club Hashtag United have announced what they describe as 'world-record' transfers of their AI players, Holly and Harvey. The Isthmian League Premier Division side had faced criticism last month after claiming to have signed the world's first AI professional footballers.
The club, founded by YouTuber Spencer Owen in 2016, initially announced the signing of Holly and Harvey in a social media post that garnered 3.5 million views. The post stated that the AI players were suffering from 'missing body syndrome' but had passed their medicals.
On Thursday, Hashtag United confirmed that both players had been sold for undisclosed fees, calling it a 'world first' in successfully selling AI players. Owen commented on Instagram: 'I don’t think people believe we actually sold them. Want to see the bank statement?'
Hashtag United have risen rapidly through the non-league system, leveraging a social media-first strategy that includes behind-the-scenes content on YouTube and Instagram. The club boasts 655,000 YouTube subscribers and over 137 million views, with sponsorships from Adidas and Lucozade.
