Spotify and FC Barcelona’s ongoing fusion of football and music hits a new note this month as Ed Sheeran steps into the spotlight for the latest jersey takeover — the club’s seventh since the partnership kicked off.
Barcelona and Spotify are back with their seventh jersey takeover, and the latest artist to feature is none other than Ed Sheeran. The English singer-songwriter becomes the first solo male pop artist to front Barça’s iconic blaugrana, with the logo from his brand-new studio album Play taking centre stage during El Clásico on 26 October. The Play logo will debut on the women’s side first though, when FC Barcelona Femení face Granada in their Liga F clash on 19 October 19.
Marking Sheeran’s eighth album release, Play channels a spirit of joy and cultural connection — a theme that strikes in tune with Barça’s own global reach and expressive footballing identity. Rooted in stories from around the world, Play celebrates the universality of creativity, community, and emotion — values that echo through the corridors of Camp Nou and La Masia alike.
“Seeing my new album Play on the Barça shirt is something I’m proud of,” says Sheeran. “I’m a big fan of football and FC Barcelona, and I love that we get to merge the worlds of music and football in such a fun way.”
The takeover continues Spotify’s mission to bridge fandoms through culture, swapping out its own logo to shine a global spotlight on music’s biggest names. Previous iterations have featured icons such as Drake, Rosalía, The Rolling Stones, KAROL G, Coldplay, and Travis Scott. Now, with over 92 million monthly Spotify listeners and 14 songs in the Billions Club, Sheeran steps into that lineage with a crossover that feels both natural and heartfelt.
Marc Hazan, Spotify’s Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Marketing, explains: “We’re excited to bring a true fan of the game into an El Clásico moment. Ed’s genuine love of football and being one of the world’s biggest artists made it natural to put Play on the front of the Barça jersey.”
The collaboration goes deeper than the pitch. A limited-edition Spotify x Ed Sheeran x FC Barcelona capsule collection drops alongside the kit, featuring 1,899 jerseys — a nod to the club’s founding year — and apparel that draws inspiration from Barça heritage and Sheeran’s creative journey. A retro-inspired jersey riffing on the 2004/05 season, the period when Ed first began recording, leads the collection.
Fans can also expect a special edition of Barça’s matchday playlist — this time curated by Ed himself. The FC Barcelona Hub on Spotify continues to be a cultural meeting point, with over 182 million streams of player playlists featuring stars like Lamine Yamal, Jules Kounde, Alexia Putellas, and Aitana Bonmatí.
For Barça players, Sheeran’s music already plays a role in the rhythm of matchday. Robert Lewandowski shared: “Ed’s songs have been part of our dressing-room playlist for a long time, so seeing his new album on the front of our shirt for El Clásico feels really special. Music and football both bring fans together in powerful ways, and I’m proud to represent that connection on the pitch.”
Manel del Río, FC Barcelona’s General Manager, echoed the sentiment: “We are very proud to have an artist like Ed Sheeran featured on our shirt. The logo change has become one of the most iconic moments of every season and exemplifies how far we can go with this union between sport and music.”
The Spotify x Ed Sheeran x FC Barcelona jersey and capsule collection will be available from 10am CEST, 15 October, via Barça Official Stores in Spain and online.
