Odds On Who Will Guest Star At Ed Sheeran's 2025 UK Arena Shows

_{Ed Sheeran performed in Ipswich in July.  Who do you think could guest star at his 2025 UK arena shows in Coventry and Manchester? (Image: MatchDay Images Limited)}

Ed Sheeran will drop his new album, Play, on September 12, and he isn't going to waste any time promoting his latest product.

The "Azizam" hitmaker has announced a run of European arena shows for December, including two in the UK.

Ed will head to Coventry's CBS Arena on December 5, and two days later he will travel just over 100 miles north to Manchester's Co-op Live venue.

The pop megastar will kick off his European mini tour in Paris on December 1st, before heading to Munich two days later, and he will end his upcoming run of gigs at Dublin's 3Arena on December 9.

As Ed's shows always are, his upcoming arena dates will be in high demand, and Sheeran fans who want to access his European tour pre-sale will have to pre-order his new album first.

But who will the lucky ticket holders see on stage alongside Ed or supporting the star beforehand?

Niall Sent To Coventry 

Ed is no stranger to enlisting the help of some local stars to feature alongside him on stage during his tours.

He recently invited Lukas Forchhammer, who fronts Danish pop band Lukas Graham, on stage when he was performing in Copenhagen, and he brought Swedish singer-songwriter Tove Lo and rapper 1.Cuz to his recent Stockholm shows.

Ed is loyal to his pals, who include the likes of One Direction star Niall Horan.

Niall is a regular visitor to Derby, where he watches his beloved Derby County Football Club, and that isn't a million miles away from Coventry's CBS Arena.

Ed could do far worse than invite Niall to make the short trip to Coventry to appear on stage with him in December. 

Coincidentally, Derby have a home game against Millwall at 12.30pm on December 6, the day after Ed's Coventry gig, meaning Niall wouldn't be too far from his beloved Pride Park if he did guest star at the show.

Sheeran is also close to One Direction singer Harry Styles, who is 7/2 to make an appearance at either his Coventry or Manchester shows.

But the "Shape of You" hitmaker may invite someone who has been heavily involved in his new album, "Play."

Snow Patrol star Johnny McDaid co-wrote and produced several tracks on the star's upcoming eighth studio album, including first single "Azizam" and third and fourth singles "Sapphire" and "A Little More," and he is just 15/8 to guest star on Ed's European mini tour. 

Ron Coming Out to Play?

Another star who has been involved in Ed's new album is Harry Potter star Rupert Grint, who shot to fame as lovable wizard Ron Weasley.

Rupert featured in Ed's music video for the tune “A Little More,” and he is just 2/1 to make a guest appearance in Coventry or Manchester.

Game of Thrones star Nathalie Emmanuel also appeared in the music video alongside Ed and Rupert, and she may have more of a location connection to Ed's Manchester show.

Before appearing in the HBO hit “Game of Thrones,” Nathalie portrayed Sasha Valentine in the soap opera “Hollyoaks,” which is filmed in Liverpool, just 32 miles from Co-op Live in Manchester.

Nathalie is 11/2 for an appearance at one of Ed's upcoming UK concerts. Others who could be in contention may include Ed's pals and collaborators Lewis Capaldi (5/2) or Stormzy (3/1).

Black Country-born Robert Plant is a 9/2 outsider, and Birmingham musician Laura Mvula is a 5/1 chance.

Ed's Blunt Support Act 

Earlier this summer, Ed – who was raised in Framlingham, Suffolk – played three historic homecoming gigs at his beloved Ipswich Town's Portman Road stadium from July 11 to 13.

For his final event, Ed was supported by one of his longtime friends, James Blunt. 

The pair are so close that James named Sheeran as his son's godfather, and Ed is known to have been hugely inspired by Blunt's music during his teenage years.

With just three months to go until he plays in Coventry and Manchester, Ed doesn't have a huge amount of time to sort support acts for his shows, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he turned to some reliable personnel.

James is 2/1 favourite to be called upon as one of his support acts.

He performed at Ed's final Ipswich homecoming show on July 13, as did Maisie Peters, who is a 4/1 to open for Sheeran later this year.

Boy band Busted and singer-songwriter Dylan – not to be confused with the legendary Bob Dylan – opened for Ed at his July 12 Portman Road show, and they are 9/4 and 5/1, respectively, to do the same in Coventry, Manchester, or both.

What's more, Tori Kelly (3/1) and Myles Smith (7/2) are expected to be in the frame after supporting Sheeran on his latest European tour, which took place from May to September.