KSI Announces Dagenham & Redbridge Purchase with Premier League Ambition
In a stunning move that blends digital celebrity with traditional football, YouTube sensation KSI has declared he is "buying" Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club, with the audacious goal of propelling them to the Premier League. The multi-hyphenate entertainer, whose ventures span music, boxing, and television, made the explosive announcement via a three-minute video filmed at the club's Victoria Road stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
A Bold Vision for the East London Club
"I want to tell the world something big is going to happen," KSI proclaimed in the video. "I've done boxing, music, YouTube content, I've done TV stuff, I've been around the world, done tours. I'm a man that does whatever I want. You can't ever stop wanting more. I am buying Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club."
The east London side, formed only in 1992, once competed in League One during the 2010-11 season but has since declined to the National League South, the sixth tier of English football. KSI, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, expressed a desire to revive the club's former glory. "Years ago, I saw the excitement, the happiness, the joy," he said. "I want to bring that back and then surpass it. I want the place to be pumping. I want the place to be rocking. I want it to be an event whenever you come here."
From FIFA Gaming to Real-World Football Management
The 32-year-old, a lifelong Arsenal fan and co-owner of Prime Hydration with Logan Paul, acknowledged the leap from virtual to actual football ownership. "Playing a video game and owning a football club is very different," he noted, but humorously suggested his experience with EA Sports' FIFA franchise would aid his quest. "I want to do the unthinkable," he continued. "I want to take Dagenham and Redbridge to the Premier League."
KSI outlined a realistic, staged approach to this ambition, emphasizing the need to improve the team and build community ties. "It's obviously going to take time, but I'd say in realistic stages, getting out of this league and entering the National League, we need to improve the team, have some additions to really take it to another level, and I want to build the community," he explained. "You know, everyone here is fantastic, hard-working people, and I want to be the man that can affect things on the pitch as well as off the pitch."
Direct Engagement with Fans and a Fighter's Mentality
Addressing fans directly, KSI admitted his ownership might seem "scary" but promised accessibility in the digital age. "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," he said. Drawing on his boxing background, which includes fights against Joe Weller and Tommy Fury, he added, "I'm a fighter. I've broken my nose, I've broken my hand, I've broken my thumb. But I keep going, no matter what. With Daggers, I'm going to keep fighting. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure we succeed. I'm just ready to get started."
Club Leadership Welcomes the New Era
The club enthusiastically embraced the announcement, reposting KSI's video on X with a nostalgic image of him in his early YouTube bedroom, photoshopped in a Dagenham and Redbridge shirt. Club chairman and former captain Anwar Uddin MBE stated, "The game is evolving and so are we. Delighted to welcome KSI to Dagenham and Redbridge. Looking forward to writing the next chapter of our history together." Uddin also shared a photo with KSI holding a No. 19 shirt.
Daggers' chief commercial officer John Grabowski hailed the move as "transformative for the club." This development follows recent changes, including former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Andy Carroll becoming a shareholder after the club was purchased by US investors Happy Fan Group in February. Reports from The Athletic indicate KSI will own a 20 percent stake in Dagenham and Redbridge.
KSI's Expanding Football Portfolio and Business Empire
KSI's foray into football began in 2024 with the launch of the UK's Baller League, where he serves as president. He has also participated in YouTube group The Sidemen's charity matches, which raised nearly £5 million last year. Beyond football, KSI co-founded Misfits Boxing in 2022 and maintains a successful music career, with his second solo album, All Over The Place, reaching No. 1 in the UK charts.
His business ventures extend to co-owning children's food company Lunchly with Logan Paul and Mr Beast, the latter boasting almost 500 million YouTube subscribers. As KSI embarks on this new challenge, his diverse background and relentless drive position him as a unique figure in the evolving landscape of football ownership, aiming to turn a sixth-tier club into a Premier League contender.
