England and Chelsea football star Ashley Cole and US rapper Sean ‘Jay Z’ Carter are teaming up to open a new restaurant and bar in Central London next year.

The deal which was brokered by entertainment group NVA will see Cole and the Roc Nation boss launch a set of businesses, ‘The 40/40 London’ being the first.

This follows the other 40/40 clubs owned and run by Jay Z in New York, Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

Jay Z who is a sports enthusiast himself and co-owner of NBA basketball team New Jersey Nets will be looking forward to working with Cole as they create ‘a high class standard and lifestyle hangout for urban and trendy folks’.

‘London is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world and the perfect location for our new venue. I’m excited about working with Ashley and NVA Entertainment Group on a range of new projects and The 40/40 London is going to be the hottest place in town’, Jay Z says.

The restaurant will be offering an American-themed menu to its guests and the bar will feature top music acts and DJs. A final decision is to be made in August on where the restaurant/bar will be located as three sites are already under construction.

‘I am delighted to be working with Jay Z. I have grown up listening to his music and now to be doing business with him is amazing and the projects we do will be delivering much needed funds back into sport and music on a local community level as well as helping talented young people get back to work’, Cole says.

NVA has a high profile track-record in sport and entertainment working with the likes of John Terry, Robinho, Usain Bolt and Antonio Valencia