KSI, one of the world’s most famous YouTubers, has agreed a deal in principle with Dagenham & Redbridge to join the National League side’s ownership group.
In a post on social media site X, KSI wrote: “I’m so excited to start this journey. It’s gonna be a rollercoaster for sure but I hope to bring Dagenham and Redbridge … back to the glory days. For those of you that are OG fans (Race to Division One), you’ll know that this is a full circle moment for me. So join me on this exhilarating adventure and I’ll see you all at Victoria road this Saturday! I’ll be streaming too haha”.
Sources with knowledge of the proposal have told The Athletic that KSI will take a minority 20 per cent stake in the sixth-tier club. The proposed deal still needs to be approved by the National League.
In a video accompanying his post on X, KSI said: “I am buying Dagenham & Redbridge football club. Just the idea of it, just excites me so much.
“Years ago I saw the excitement, the happiness, the joy … I want to bring that back and then surpass it. With this club, I want to do the unthinkable. I want to take Dagenham & Redbridge to the Premier League.
I’m so excited to start this journey. It’s gonna be a rollercoaster for sure but I hope to bring Dagenham and Redbridge (@Dag_RedFC) back to the glory days. For those of you that are OG fans (Race to Division One), you’ll know that this is a full circle moment for me. So join me… pic.twitter.com/GosGKRtPR6
— ksi (@KSI) March 3, 2026
“It’s obviously going to take time but I’d say realistic stage is to get out of this league and entering the National League.
“I know to some of you it might be scary, me being one of the owners. Bit I’m reachable, you can literally tweet me and I’ll see it … I’m approachable.”
AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes, who owned a stake in Queens Park Rangers between 2011 and 2023, serving as the club’s chairman until 2018, has also held discussions over a separate deal for a minority stake of his own.
Dagenham & Redbridge have seen their ownership group overhauled over recent months. The east London club were purchased by U.S.-based investment consortium Happy Fan Group last month, with former player Anwar Uddin taking over as chairman.
The arrival of KSI is the group’s highest-profile move.
The 32-year-old Londoner, born Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, founded his YouTube channel in 2009. Initially focused on the FIFA video game series, the brand has since grown into a conglomerate, with Forbes listing KSI as #2 on their 2023 Top Creators list.
He is a founding member of YouTube group the Sidemen — who have put on a number of football matches at Wembley Stadium — and a professional boxer who has fought Logan Paul and Tommy Fury. His music has also amassed over one billion streams in the United Kingdom.
The content creator has also appeared as a guest judge on Britain’s Got Talent, founded his own record label, and runs a kids’ lunch company with fellow YouTubers Paul and Mr Beast. He is an Arsenal fan.
Dagenham & Redbridge, KSI, and Fernandes have been contacted for comment.
Former Newcastle, Liverpool, and England striker Andy Carroll, who currently plays for Dagenham & Redbridge, was announced as a shareholder in the club last week.
