Ed Sheeran has officially announced that his upcoming album, titled Play, will be released on September 12, 2025. To mark the occasion, the artist has also unveiled a brand-new single, Old Phone.

Following the conclusion of his Mathematics album series, Ed Sheeran returns stronger than ever, stepping confidently into a new creative chapter in 2025. Renowned for his ability to constantly reinvent himself, Sheeran explores fresh musical territory in Play, collaborating with producers and musicians from around the globe while remaining grounded in the sounds and themes that have made him one of the world’s most beloved pop artists.

Part of the inspiration for Play comes from his encounters with Indian and Persian musical cultures—surprisingly aligned with the Irish folk tradition in which he was raised, sharing similarities in scales, rhythms, and melodies. The result is a boundary-breaking musical language that gives the album a fresh and distinctive sound.

Still, Sheeran doesn’t stray too far from home. On more familiar ground, he reminds listeners why he remains the most influential singer-songwriter of his generation, delivering moving ballads and emotionally rich acoustic tracks. Play is a bold mix of innovation and familiarity, rooted in Sheeran’s unmistakable pop sensibility. It stands as a vibrant showcase of his artistry and is set to become one of the defining albums of the year.

Sheeran shared in a statement:

“Play is an album born from the darkest time in my life. After everything I went through, all I wanted was to create joy and color, and to explore the cultures of the countries I visited while on tour. I worked on this album all over the world and finished it in Goa, India—where I had some of the most fun and creative days of my life. It’s a real emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. It captures everything I love about music, all the fun of it, but also where I am right now as a person, a partner, a father.
I told myself that everything surrounding this album should be fun and playful—that’s why we’re doing jam sessions in pubs, performing on open-top buses, and singing in bars wearing pink cowboy hats. The older I get, the more I want to enjoy the crazy, chaotic moments.
You can pre-order Play now, and there are lots of playful surprises coming before the release. x”*

After the global success of his vibrant pop hit Azizam, Sheeran taps into nostalgia with his latest single Old Phone—a haunting exploration of reconnection with the past. Upon turning on an old phone unused since 2015, Ed uncovers long-lost text messages from a missing friend, an argument with a former lover, and forgotten conversations with family—an emotional reflection on how time and distance shape who we become.

Blending nostalgic acoustic melodies with raw emotion, the track is reminiscent of Sheeran’s early songwriting days, while simultaneously showcasing his growth as an artist. Old Phone is produced by Blake Slatkin and Ilya Salmanzadeh.