KSI Joins Dagenham & Redbridge Ownership with Premier League Dreams

Post By DJ Longers
March 5, 2026

The ‘Race to Division One’ Goes Real: KSI Joins Dagenham & Redbridge Ownership with Premier League Dreams

DAGENHAM, LONDON — In a move that bridges the gap between YouTube nostalgia and professional football, global superstar KSI has officially become a shareholder and strategic partner of Dagenham & Redbridge FC.

The announcement, made via a viral social media video on Tuesday afternoon, sees the 32-year-old creator (real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji) take a 20% minority stake in the National League South side. For "OG" fans, the investment is a massive "full-circle" moment, harkening back to KSI’s legendary 2012 FIFA series, Race to Division One, where the Daggers were his team of choice.

The "Unthinkable" Ambition

Currently sitting 13th in the sixth tier of English football, Dagenham & Redbridge is a long way from the bright lights of the top flight. However, KSI wasted no time in setting a gargantuan target for the East London club.

“With this club, I want to do the unthinkable,” KSI stated in his announcement video. “I want to take Dagenham and Redbridge to the Premier League. I know it’s scary for some of you, but I’m a fighter. I’ve broken my nose, my hands—I keep going. We’re going to take this to another level.”

While acknowledging that the journey will "take time," the influencer's involvement is being touted as the most significant strategic partnership in the club's 34-year history.

An All-Star Boardroom

KSI isn't the only big name at Victoria Road. He joins an increasingly high-profile ownership group that includes:

The Happy Fan Group: The U.S.-based investment consortium, led by John Grabowski, which completed its primary takeover just weeks ago.
Andy Carroll: The former England and Liverpool striker, who joined the club as a player-owner earlier this season.

“Having JJ as a shareholder is transformative,” said Happy Fan Group lead John Grabowski. “His passion for disruption and global reach aligns perfectly with our ambition to build a club relevant to both the local community and a worldwide audience.”

The "Wrexham" Blueprint?

The move inevitably draws comparisons to the Hollywood takeover of Wrexham AFC by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Like Wrexham, the Daggers have recently faced hardship, having been relegated from the National League (fifth tier) on the final day of last season.

However, the "KSI effect" is expected to provide a different kind of fuel. With over 75 million followers across his platforms, the Arsenal superfan has already promised to stream his reactions and be "reachable" to fans via social media. He is expected to attend his first match as an owner this Saturday 7th March when the Daggers host league leaders Dorking Wanderers.

From Pixels to Pitch

For the Dagenham faithful, the arrival of a "FIFA legend" brings a mix of excitement and skepticism. Long-time Managing Director Stephen Thompson MBE, who is stepping down at the end of March after 45 years, has been named honorary life president to help bridge the transition between the club’s traditional roots and its new digital-first era.

Whether KSI can actually replicate his virtual "Division One" success in the grueling reality of the English pyramid remains to be seen. But with the "Daggers" now trending globally, the journey from the bottom of the ladder has officially begun.