Ed Sheeran led the star-studded front row at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, as he watched the New York Knicks play the Los Angeles Clippers.

The singer-songwriter, 34, was joined by the likes of fellow music artist Ciara and comedian Chris Rock in getting a courtside view of the Clippers defeating the Knicks 126-113.

Ed cut a typically casual figure in a long-sleeved T-shirt and khaki cargo trousers, adding a black and yellow bomber jacket.

The hitmaker beamed as he posed for a selfie with Ciara, but couldn’t hide his disappointment through the game as the Knicks trailed behind.

He recently sent his fans into a frenzy by hinting he might be ready to release his H๏τly-anticipated next album.

Speculation has been building for months about Ed’s new LP, тιтled Play, which has been shrouded in secrecy. 

Ed Sheeran led the star-studded front row at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, as he watched the New York Knicks play the Los Angeles Clippers

The singer-songwriter, 34, was joined by the likes of fellow music artist Ciara (seen) and comedian Chris Rock in getting a courtside view of the Clippers defeating the Knicks 126-113

Ed cut a typically casual figure in a long-sleeved T-shirt and khaki cargo trousers, adding a black and yellow bomber jacket

But earlier this month, the pop star was spotted smiling while leaving his favourite Soho pub after playing the album for the first time to a group of record label executives.

Sources inside the event told the Mail that there ‘were more than a few bangers,’ adding that it would ‘shoot up the share price’ of the star’s record company, Warner.

‘It was all a secret and Ed proudly shared his new music with a select group of big names in the music industry,’ said one.

‘He was so happy, and there are some absolute bangers on the album. It went down a storm, the talk was that it would be as big, if not bigger, than his others.’

Ed – who shares daughters Lyra and Jupitar with wife Cherry Seaborn – has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the world’s best-selling music artists.

After signing with Asylum Records, his debut album, +, was released in September 2011 and topped the UK and Australian charts, since being certified seven-times platinum in the UK.

Two of his albums are in the list of the best-selling albums in UK chart history, with x placing at number 20  and ÷ coming in at number 34.

While the Thinking Out Loud star’s most recent album, Autumn Variations, topped the chart in October 2023.

The hitmaker beamed as he posed for a selfie with Ciara, but couldn’t hide his disappointment through the game as the Knicks trailed behind

He recently sent his fans into a frenzy by hinting he might be ready to release his H๏τly-anticipated next album,  Play, which has been shrouded in secrecy (pictured in 2023)

Ed himself seemed to give the тιтle of his latest LP away, after he responded to fans on social media theorising that his change in profile picture marked his musical return.

One fan declared: ‘Ed Sheeran recently changed his profile picture guys! What math is he gonna do next?’ in reference to his Mathematics album series, + (2011), x (2014), ÷ (2017), = (2021) and – (2023).

In response, Ed quipped: ‘Irony is if you ask me anything maths related I would fail the question, I never finished high school.’ 

However, he then teased the upcoming record and appeared to reveal its name by adding: ‘Play coming soon though’.