I’m a former England star with £50m in career earnings… now I own a fourth division team in Ivory Coast

FORMER Crystal Palace and England star Wilfried Zaha has used part of his £50million career earnings to buy a fourth division club in the Ivory Coast.

The 30-year-old bought a semi-professional side in the capital Yamoussoukro with his brother, Carin.

Wilfried Zaha has made just under £50million in career earningsGetty

Zaha owns a fourth division team in the Ivory Coast, who he has won 31 caps forAFP

According to Capology, Zaha’s career earnings total £49.92million and is using some of that to help give back to the nation of his birth.

Zaha plans to use Espoir Club D’Abengourou to provide opportunities for young players in the country.

He was born in the Ivory Coast before moving to England as a child, going on to win two caps for the Three Lions.

However, Zaha later switched his international allegiance to the country of his birth and made his debut in 2017.

In the six years since, he has scored five goals in 31 caps and played at each of the last three Africa Cup of Nations.

Zaha discussed his move into club ownership in an interview with Forbes back in November.

“Going back to my country just opened up my eyes to a lot of things to be thankful for,” he explained. “I just wanted to invest back in my country.

BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK

“I was thinking of different possibilities to help and when my brother came to me with the football club opportunity, it just made me think: ‘Imagine all the aspiring kids that are watching me that want that same opportunity.’

“So if you do well you get an opportunity to thrive and you can end up playing for my club.

“There are so many people who want to play and there’s just not many opportunities.

“I just thought: ‘The love I’m getting, let me see if I can give it back somehow.’”

Zaha switched his international allegiance from England to the Ivory CoastGetty

Zaha began his career with Crystal Palace before being sold to Manchester United for £10million aged 20 in 2013.

He returned to the Eagles a year later on an initial loan deal before going on to spend nine years at Selhurst Park.

During his time in England, he scored 68 goals in 305 Premier League appearances for Palace, United and Cardiff.

However, he left Palace on a free transfer this summer, joining Turkish giants Galatasaray.

Zaha joined Galatasaray on a free transfer this summerGetty