Odds On How Many Number 1s Ed Sheeran Will Land From His New Album And Where ‘Azizam’ Will Chart

_{Ed Sheeran performs live as fans anticipate the release of his new album 'Play' and chart-topping single, ‘Azizam.’ (Image: UPI / Alamy)}

Ed Sheeran is very excited right now , and his fans should be too. The singer-songwriter has completed work on his hotly anticipated eighth studio album, and he has a new single out on April 4 in the shape of the new pop bop 'Azizam.'

Ed recently shared a video of himself singing a snippet of 'Azizam,' and he updated fans about his forthcoming record, writing on Instagram: "Album done. Single soon. I’m very excited as you can tell."

While he is yet to confirm the name of his forthcoming new album, it's expected to be titled 'Play' after Ed recently appeared to let the name slip.

When a fan asked what "math" he was going to do for his next record, in reference to his album titles + (2011), x (2014), ÷ (2017), = (2021) and - (2023), Ed replied: "Irony is if you ask me anything maths related, I would fail the question. I never finished high school. 'Play' coming soon, though."

After hearing a snippet of 'Azizam' – which is a Persian term of endearment meaning "my dear" – it's clear Ed is back, and he's ready to take on the charts again.

But how many number ones, if any, will 'Play' spawn?

Ed's Big Pop Bangers

Ed is certainly no stranger to number one singles, after earning his 14th on the Official Singles Chart – putting him level with Sir Cliff Richard and Westlife – in 2023 with the single Eyes Closed, which featured on his sixth studio album.

However, he didn't trouble the top of the charts with his latest album. The star followed up his mathematics album series with the folk-inspired record Autumn Variations, which dropped in September 2023.

The album didn't have any official singles and didn't spawn any number ones as a result. But the star looks set to hit back with "big pop" record 'Play' next.

Late last year, he told Variety: "It feels like I’m getting back into big pop for the first time in a long time. It's quite exciting."

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While Ed has earned several number ones over his career, they haven't all come from album tracks, and it's somewhat surprising to note that none of his albums have ever spawned four, five, or more chart-topping singles.

His most common number of summit-hitting songs from one album is two, after Bad Habits and Shivers did the business for the 2021 record, which followed number ones for Shape of You and Perfect on album ÷.

Before that, he landed two number one hits on his second studio album, X, courtesy of Thinking Out Loud and Sing, which was his first-ever Official Singles Chart number one in 2014.

Based on past history, Ed is most likely to secure another brace of number one songs with his new album, and he's 1/1 favourite to do so.

Ed's New Record?

The most number ones Ed has earned for a single album is three, on his 2019 record No.6 Collaborations Project, thanks to 'Take Me Back to London,' which featured Stormzy; Beautiful People, which featured Khalid; and Ed and Justin Bieber's 'I Don't Care.' 

If there are some secret collaborations on 'Play,' then he could hit another number one chart hat-trick.

It's 2/1 that 'Play' spawns three chart-toppers, but the star is 4/1 to go one better, or more, and set a new personal record for the most number ones he's earned in one record.

If the small snippet of 'Azizam' is anything to go by, he sounds on track to earn another number one. The song has pop banger written all over it, and Ed will no doubt be determined to return to the top of the charts after a two-year break.

It's just 4/6 that Azizam features somewhere in the Top 10, and the tune is 11/8 to peak between 11 and 20.

American Town was his best-performing song from the latest record, Autumn Variations, with the tune peaking at 27, while the songs Magical and England peaked at 49 and 84, respectively.

Fans have largely put that down to his latest record being a folk-inspired album and because he didn't release official singles from it.

But 'Play' looks like being a different story.

Ed is 7/4 to land exactly one chart-topping single from the LP, but it's 6/1; the new album flops and doesn't land him a 15th number one on the Official Singles Chart. 

Grammys Glory

Like number ones, Ed has also tasted success at various awards shows across the world, including the Grammys.

The pop megastar has four Grammy Awards to his name from 17 nominations, but he hasn't triumphed at the ceremony for seven years.

His last success came in 2018 when he won Best Pop Vocal Album for ÷ and Best Pop Solo Performance for Shape Of You. Ed's first Grammy's glory came in 2016 when he went home with two accolades thanks to his top tune, Thinking Out Loud.

He won Best Pop Solo Performance and Song Of The Year for the track. Ed is definitely excited about his new album – but will it produce further Grammy success?

His last nomination came in 2024 when his sixth studio album, -, was up for Best Pop Vocal Album. But he was defeated by his good friend Taylor Swift and her multi-award-winning album Midnights.

Ed is due another Grammy success, and 'Play' is 7/4 to land him one of those gold-plated trophies again next year. But he's not exactly in good Grammys form, and it's 4/7 he goes home empty-handed in 2026.

Despite that, we can certainly look forward to a Sheeran summer this year.