Spotify and FC Barcelona Feature Ed Sheeran’s ‘Play’ Album on Shirts for Upcoming Clásico.

Roger Hampel

Image: FC Barcelona

Spotify and FC Barcelona have unveiled the next chapter of their ongoing partnership, announcing that the logo of Ed Sheeran’s new album, Play, will appear on the club’s jerseys for both the women’s and men’s upcoming fixtures against Granada CF (October 19) and Real Madrid (October 26).

The collaboration marks the seventh artist logo change since Spotify became the club’s Main Shirt Partner and sees Ed Sheeran become the first male solo pop artist to feature on the iconic Blaugrana kit.

Music Meets Football’s Biggest Stage FC Barcelona Ed Sheeran

The special-edition shirt continues Spotify and FC Barcelona’s strategy of merging music and sport to create cultural moments that reach global audiences. Sheeran’s Play logo will take center stage on the front of the jersey, symbolizing how music and football both unite fans and transcend borders.

With more than 92 million monthly Spotify listeners and 14 tracks in the platform’s Billions Club, Ed Sheeran brings enormous global reach to this activation. The partnership leverages his international influence to connect streaming audiences with the excitement of one of football’s most watched matches — El Clásico.

Artist and Club Perspectives

Ed Sheeran described the collaboration as a dream come true:

“Seeing my new album, Play, on the Barça shirt is one of those moments I can hardly believe. I’ve loved football my whole life, so bringing my music to such an iconic stage and sharing it with fans everywhere means a lot to me.”

Robert Lewandowski also reflected on the crossover between football and music:

“Ed’s songs have been part of our dressing-room playlist for a long time, so seeing his album on our shirt for El Clásico is really special. Music and football unite fans in powerful ways, and I’m proud to represent that connection on the pitch.”

From the business side, Manel del Río, FC Barcelona’s General Manager, said the collaboration showcases the continued innovation of the Spotify partnership:

“The logo change has become one of the most iconic moments of every season. It exemplifies how our collaboration with Spotify keeps redefining the relationship between sport and music.”

Marc Hazan, Spotify’s Vice President of Partnerships and Marketing, added:

“We’re thrilled to bring a true football fan to such a major moment as El Clásico. Ed’s passion for football and his global stature made Play the perfect choice for this year’s campaign.”

Limited-Edition Merchandise and Digital Activations

As with previous campaigns, limited-edition jerseys featuring the Play logo will be available for purchase from October 15 at Barça Stores, online, and at Nike’s Passeig de Gràcia flagship.

The release includes:

• 1,899 match-quality shirts available to the public

• 22 exclusive signed editions (by men’s and women’s first-team players)

• 11 shirts signed by Ed Sheeran himself

A lifestyle collection — including T-shirts, a sweatshirt, and a scarf inspired by the album’s visual design — will complement the launch.

Additionally, Sheeran has curated a special “Barça Matchday” playlist on Spotify featuring motivational tracks for both players and fans. From October 23, the Play shirt will also appear digitally within KONAMI’s eFootball™, allowing users to equip their virtual teams with the limited-edition kit.