Chelsea Nearing New Shirt Sponsor Deal After Lengthy Absence
Chelsea Football Club could soon secure a new front-of-shirt sponsor after playing almost half of the 2024/25 season without one, a situation not seen since the club’s 2022 ownership change.
While the absence of a logo has given their kits a minimalist look, it’s also cost the club potential revenue, which other Premier League clubs have continued to generate.
A Missed Opportunity
In recent years, top-tier clubs like Manchester United have inked lucrative sponsorship deals, such as the £300m Snapdragon partnership with Qualcomm, which runs through to 2029.
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In contrast, Chelsea entered a brief £40m deal with Infinite Athlete in 2023/24, but have played the current season with plain shirts, opting to hold out for a more profitable agreement.
A Long Wait for Chelsea Fans
Chelsea officials are reportedly optimistic that their patience will pay off. According to The Daily Mail, the club is close to finalizing a new deal as they’ve recently surged back up the Premier League table.
The patience comes after Chelsea decided that the offers they received during the summer were not on par with their ambitions, hoping for better deals as the team’s performance improves.
Potential Sponsors
The race for the coveted shirt sponsor spot is heating up, with as many as five companies reportedly in the running. While names haven’t been confirmed, it is understood that the contenders include three airlines and two tech firms.
Both Emirates and Etihad Airways are already involved with other Premier League clubs—Arsenal and Manchester City, respectively—but the air travel industry remains a strong contender in this race.
Also, read: 5 Reasons Why Chelsea Could Win the Premier League This Season Under Enzo Maresca
The Changing Landscape of Sponsorships
The Premier League is undergoing significant changes in sponsorship policies, particularly in relation to betting companies. More than half of the league’s teams this season still feature gambling firms on their shirts.
However, a collective agreement has been made to phase out gambling sponsorships from matchday shirts by the 2026/27 season. This makes the search for a new primary sponsor even more critical for Chelsea as they move forward.
A Rich History of Sponsors
Over the last 30 years, Chelsea has been sponsored by some of the most well-known brands, including Coors, Autoglass, Emirates, and Samsung.
These memorable partnerships helped the club generate valuable revenue, while also creating strong brand associations globally. The club will be hoping their next deal matches the ambition and reach of these past partnerships.
In the coming weeks, Chelsea fans could see the long wait for a new shirt sponsor come to an end, marking a new chapter in the club’s commercial ventures.
Chelsea Nearing New Shirt Sponsor Deal After Lengthy Absence
