Wilfried Zaha and Stormzy lead AFC takeover of Croydon Athletic

Wilfried Zaha is one of several Premier League stars hailing from south London. Credit: Getty Images/Jan Kruger

Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha and rapper Stormzy have agreed a deal to take over non-league club AFC Croydon Athletic.

The pair have formed a consortium with former Danny Young head of player care at Palace, who exchanged contracts with the club. the current owners of the United Counties League South Premier's team at level nine of the English football pyramid.

«The consortium will own, operate and develop its hometown football club,» Croydon said in a statement. “While completion depends on legislative and management procedures, the three members of the consortium are pleased to develop a community asset in the area that has given them opportunities of their own.

«They hope to involve the entire community on this exciting journey with them.»

Zaha, 30, is about to take his next steps in football ownership, following in the footsteps of Jamie Vardy, who co-owns American team Rochester Rhinos, while while Gerard Piqué is the owner of FC Andorra in La Liga 2.

Stormzy is one-third of the consortium along with Zaha and Danny Young . Credit: PA Wire/Ben Birchall

The Palace striker, whose contract expired this summer, has been a friend of Stormzy's for years. The Ivory Coast international also owns the Espoir Club D'Abengourou in his home country, having bought it with his brother as co-owner.

Zaha was born in Côte d'Ivoire but grew up in the Croydon area, where he was involved in community projects through his own charitable foundation and the Academy.

His new club was founded in 2012 «after a group of supporters gathered at the evangelical Selhurst Church in South Norwood to form a new club,» according to the official website. They were formed after the «demise» of Croydon Athletic Football Club after owner Mazhar Majid was embroiled in a cricket scandal.

Zaha tweeted: «Let the journey begin.» As for his own future, he has been offered a new contract at Selhurst Park but has not yet signed a contract and has been linked with other Premier League clubs as well as other clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia.