Just hours after it was announced he had taken a minority share in Ipswich Town, Ed Sheeran joined one of the world's most popular singers on stage.

Sheeran became the surprise guest as the latest run of Taylor Swift’s Wembley concerts as her European leg of the Eras Tour finished in London on Thursday evening.

The US hitmaker performed a verse of Everything Has Changed, which features Sheeran, before bringing out the Suffolk singer to rapturous applause from the crowd.

They blended the song with End Game, which they also collaborated on, as well as Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud, which appeared to mark the arrival of her “surprise songs” - which Swift changes in every Eras Tour show.

On stage, she said he was “like a second brother to me”, and talked about how his career has taken off, saying: “He plays Wembley like every week. This is like regular for him."

The pair have collaborated at several concerts since 2013 and they were even spotted enjoying a drink at a pub in Framlingham together that same year.

The news of Sheeran's appearance came just hours after it was announced that the he had acquired a minority stake in Ipswich Town.

Sheeran is a lifelong fan of the Tractor Boys and has been shirt sponsor for the men’s and women’s teams since 2021.

Ed Sheeran will have long-term use of an executive box at Portman RoadEd Sheeran will have long-term use of an executive box at Portman Road (Image: Joe Giddens/PA)

He said: “I am really excited to have bought a small percentage of my hometown football club. It’s any football fan’s dream to be an owner of the club they support, and I feel so grateful for this opportunity.

“I have lived in Suffolk since I was three years old and, while I travel the world and sometimes feel like an outsider in big cities, Suffolk and Ipswich have always made me feel part of the community and protected."

“This is just me putting some money into the club I love and them returning the gesture, so please don’t get onto me with signing suggestions or tactics to play!”

Sheeran also appeared in a Premier League video wearing a Town shirt while driving a tractor through Suffolk fields. 

The Premier League's X video even appears to reference the Ipswich Star, with a fictional newspaper called Ipswich News using our tagline "Champion of Ipswich".

At the end of the video Sheeran is heard singing "Super Kieran McKenna", showing support for the Blues manager ahead of the Tractor Boys return to the top flight.