Boyzone stars Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham and Keith Duffy have joined forces to buy a stake in Chorley FC, following in the footsteps of Hollywood’s Ryan Reynolds and rapper Stormzy, and will perform a series of concerts at Victory Park this summer

Boyzone are gearing up for a fresh round of concerts as the group reunite in a joint business venture, The Mirror can exclusively reveal.

Formed by Louis Walsh back in 1993, the boyband had put off getting back together for some time now, with rumours they were coming back for their 30th anniversary this year.

Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham and Keith Duffy have signed a lucrative deal in a business move similar to that made by Hollywood’s Ryan Reynolds and Shut Up rapper Stormzy. Westlife’s Brian McFadden is also said to be eyeing up the opportunity as the band prepares to become the latest celebrities to buy stakes in a football club.

We can reveal that the Boyzone lads have bought shares in Chorley FC, based in Lancashire, and that they’ll be heading to this Saturday’s home game against Solihull in the FA Trophy to officially seal the deal.

Shane Lynch in talks with his business partner Paul McCallum as Boyzone become the latest stars to take shares in a UK football club (Image: Chorley FC)
“It’s a really exciting move for Chorley FC,” an insider told The Mirror. “It is a game-changer that has the potential to bring the town into the limelight like never before, generating a buzz and publicity that will shine a bright light on Chorley.

“Ronan, Shane and Keith are bursting with excitement. Boyzone’s presence at this Saturday’s game will undoubtedly create an electric atmosphere, filled with music, joy, and a shared love for football and community,” the source continued. “Chorley FC is a 140 year old club and Chorley is a big town in a great location, perfect for Boyzone.”

The lads have filmed a documentary about their rapid rise to fame and their latest football club venture is thought to feature in another upcoming programme, insiders tell us. The band will also be performing comeback concerts at Chorley FC’s grounds at the club’s famous Victory Park stadium as part of their new deal.

The band are expected to attend the team’s match this weekend (Image: Getty Images)
Official news will be announced this weekend as the boys attend this Saturday’s match. The club recently got taken on by a new owner and shareholders who announced their acquisition in May last year under Reset Events Ltd, with UK-based investors including The Cannon Run, ATH Vodka and 1st Choice Insurance, and more. The boys would become shareholders as part of the deal which is being negotiated.

A spokesperson for the club said: “We are bursting with excitement and gratitude for this incredible opportunity.”

Boyzone’s involvement comes after Ronan previously said the band wouldn’t be getting back together after they “went out on a high” with their final tour and album back in 2018. He explained things “never felt the same” after the death of bandmate Stephen Gately in 2009.

The group’s co-star tragically died aged just 33 after an undetected congenital heart defect. Ronan, thought to be at the front of this new business deal, previously said that ending Boyzone was the “right thing”. He explained: “We had 25 great years.”

“We went out on a high. We wrote the last chapter ourselves,” he previously told MailOnilne. “Finishing it the way we did after 25 years was the right thing. We went out on a high, we had five great nights at the Palladium.”

BUT…

Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating has denied rumours that the band are about to buy Chorley FC.

Ronan Keating has poured cold water on the rumours that Boyzone are set to buy English football club Chorley FC.

Chorley’s announcement that the band were attending this weekend’s game between Chorley and Solihull moors Moors led many to believe that the group were going to purchase the club.

The club themselves have leaned in to the media frenzy and have suggested that the Irish group could become “the face” of the club.

But Keating has denied these rumours and took to social media to reply to a fan asking whether the rumours were true by saying “No Sarah it’s not.”

This line from Keating contradicts statements made by Chorley’s COO Tom Clarke who said: “This collaboration with Boyzone is part of ongoing discussions that could potentially see them becoming the face of Chorley FC.

“This is a game-changer that has the potential to bring our town into the limelight like never before, generating a buzz and publicity that will shine a bright light on Chorley.”

He added: “We are bursting with excitement and gratitude for this incredible opportunity.

“Boyzone’s presence at the game will undoubtedly create an electric atmosphere, filled with music, joy, and a shared love for football and community.”