YouTuber KSI purchases stake in Dagenham and Redbridge, promises Premier League football

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 4 Mar 2026 03:56 CST
• 3 min read

News

YouTube personality KSI has purchased a minority stake in sixth-tier English side Dagenham and Redbridge and has promised to take the club to the Premier League.

KSI, real name lajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, has a reported net worth of around £75 million (Mirror) and began his financial empire by creating video game content on YouTube.

His Sidemen group channel boasts hundreds of millions of views on the content-sharing website.

The money gained from his YouTube work allowed him to break into other areas, including celebrity boxing matches. So far, he has fought two professional fights against Tommy Fury and Logan Paul.

He founded Misfits Boxing and is also a part-owner of Prime energy drinks and Lunchly snack boxes.

KSI is a keen footballer, too, and you'll regularly see him taking part in charity matches.

Football is clearly a passion, then, so it makes sense he would invest in Dagenham and Redbridge, who were relegated to the National League South last season.

“I’m so excited to start this journey," he told the official club website.

"It’s gonna be a rollercoaster for sure but I hope to bring Dagenham and Redbridge back to the glory days. And once we reach that point, I want to go even further. Reaching the Premier League would be a dream. And I believe it is 100% doable.

"It will take a long time, so to the Daggers fans, please be patient. I want you to know that I am fully committed to making sure Dagenham and Redbridge is a team that everyone will know worldwide, and will be an exciting team to watch and support

"I’ve been watching games secretly at home for months on YouTube streams so it feels so good to finally show my support publicly. For those of you that are OG fans (Race to Division One), you’ll know that this is a full circle moment for me. This is a really big deal for me and I can’t wait to go to my first game this Saturday against the league leaders, Dorking Wanderers!”

Owner John Grabowski of the Happy Fan Group said: “Having JJ as a shareholder in Dagenham & Redbridge is transformative for the club. His passion for disruption, connections with people, and motivation to succeed perfectly aligns with the ambition of this Club moving forward. This partnership is a clear statement of our intent: to build a truly unique club that is relevant to both its local community and a global audience. We welcome JJ and look forward to working together to deliver a brighter future for the Daggers.”

KSI has started to hit mainstream fame recently as he is currently a judge on Britain's Got Talent alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, earning a spot due to his music career.

Dagenham and Redbridge have never been higher in the football pyramid in England than League One so the promise of Premier League football is certainly an ambitious one.

Celebrity owners these days are nothing new, with the likes of Tom Brady investing in Birmingham City and Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchasing Wrexham.

Notably, Andy Carroll is also an investor in Dagenham and Redbridge and he joined the club as a player on a free transfer in July.

Current managing director Stephen Thompson will step down from his role at the end of March, having served the club for 45 years. In fact, he was with the club known before the merger of Dagenham and Redbridge Forest in 1992.

"Firstly, can I say that it has been a privilege to have been associated with the club for so long and the part I have been able to play over the years," he said.

"But with the takeover by the Happy Fan Group, I feel it is the right time to step down and hand the reins to the new owners.

"As a lifelong supporter first, I wish them the very best for the club. I am also extremely humbled and honoured to have been made the club's honorary life president, and I thank the new board for their generosity."

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