Ed Sheeran and pal Jack Grealish shared a hug as they reunited ahead of the singer’s beloved Ipswich F.C losing 5-0 to the footballer’s team Man City on Sunday.

The hitmaker, 33, who is also a stakeholder in the club, greeted new dad Jack, 29 and appeared in high spirits before the Premier League game at Portman Road.

Ed wrapped up warm in a black padded jacket emblonzed with the Ipswich badge as he shook hands and shared a hug with his famous friend.

Meanwhile Jack wore a maroon tracksuit over his kit while toting his essentials in a £2,000 Gucci duffel bag. 

Football mad Ed is known for being friends with the England players and back in 2021 performed for the squad ahead of the Euros.

Organised by pal and team captain Harry Kane the singer gave them a private concert as they waited to discover last-16 opponent.

Ed Sheeran, 33, and pal Jack Grealish, 29, shared a hug as they reunited ahead of the singer’s beloved Ipswich F.C losing 5-0 to the footballer’s team Man City on Sunday

The hitmaker who is also a stakeholder in the club, greeted new dad Jack, 29 and appeared in high spirits before the Premier League game at Portman Road 

Earlier this month Ed stunned school children with a surprise performance in their school ᴀssembly.

The singer left students and teachers gobsmacked at Fitzalan High School in Cardiff when he walked on stage and started performing his hit singles.

Ed’s shock appearance was to launch The Ed Sheeran Foundation, which aims to improve access to music for more than 12,000 children and young people. 

The hitmaker performed Thinking Out Loud and Shape Of You, before answering the children’s questions.

Music education in the UK faces significant challenges, with varying needs across regions, schools, and age groups. 

While the UK music industry contributed a record £7.6 billion to the economy in 2024, disparities still remain in terms of access to music education. 

 A 2019 BPI survey revealed that one in four schools serving disadvantaged communities offer no music lessons at all.

Ed wrapped up warm in a black padded jacket emblonzed with the Ipswich badge as he shook hands and shared a hug with his famous friend

The pair appeared delighted to be reunited ahead of the game  

Meanwhile Jack wore a maroon tracksuit over his kit as he joined his fellow team mates

He toted his essentials in a £2,000 Gucci duffel bag

Football mad Ed is known for being friends with the England players and back in 2021 performed for the squad ahead of the Euros

Organised by pal and team captain Harry Kane the singer gave them a private concert as they waited to discover last-16 opponent

Ed’s beloved team lost 5-0 to their rivals

Upon its launch, Ed’s foundation has already supported 18 grᴀssroots music education organisations and state school music departments across the UK. 

This support will directly impact 12,000 children and young people by improving access to instruments, creating performance opportunities, and opening pathways into the music industry.

Read More Ed Sheeran launches new foundation to improve access to music for young people in the UK – as he reflects on how learning to play instruments shaped his childhood

Ed went into further details of why the new venture is so important to him, in a lengthy Instagram post, accompanied by a heartwarming video of him speaking to schoolchildren about the importance of music.

He penned in the caption: ‘I set up @edsheeranfnd because recently there’s been less and less importance being put on music education. 

‘Even when I was in school it was seen as a ‘doss subject’ and not taken seriously. There’s a misconception that it’s ’not a real job’ – when the music industry accounts for 216,000 jobs in so many different fields, and bringing as much as £7.6 billion in a year to the UK economy. 

‘Not to mention the power our art has worldwide to bring joy to people. It’s something we should be proud of and championing in the UK, not sweeping under the rug and pretending we are just bankers (no offence to bankers obvz).’

He continued: ‘It was incredible for my mental health as a kid, feeling a sense of purpose and achievement, even just learning piano or cello at a young age way before songwriting. 

Earlier this month Ed stunned school children with a surprise performance in their school ᴀssembly

The singer left students and teachers gobsmacked at Fitzalan High School in Cardiff when he walked on stage and started performing his hit singles 

‘I want kids to be able to learn instruments, learn production and songwriting, performing, and have apprenticeship schemes help them learn different skills to enter the industry.

‘I employ 150 people on tour who all have different skill sets, there’s also labels, management, publishing, promoters. Music is such a key part of our society. 

‘The more I do travelling around and visiting schools and grᴀss roots projects, the more I see there’s pᴀssion and inspiring people, who are being undervalued and underserved.’

The star signed off with: ‘I’m hoping this foundation is a start to giving them the support they need to keep going, and show them they are hugely important to us. More to follow, loads of love x.’

In addition to providing hands-on support, the foundation advocates for greater recognition of music’s transformative power in young people’s lives and the essential role of music teachers.