Top 11 best sponsorship deals in football

These partnerships have been one of the defining trades in the game.

Football is a multi-billion-dollar industry driven by sponsorships and endorsements. These agreements not only provide financial stability to clubs and athletes but also assist companies in increasing their visibility and reaching a larger audience. In this post, we will look at the top ten finest football sponsorship deals.

UEFA Champions League and Gazprom

The agreement between Gazprom and the UEFA Champions League was originally formed in 2012, and Gazprom has long been a sponsor of the competition. One of the most prominent and expensive sponsorship deals in international football involves Gazprom, who reportedly pays about €100 million annually to be a Champions League elite partner.

Being a premier sponsor, Gazprom's logo is widely displayed both on and off the field throughout every Champions League game. This includes branding on all official Champions League apparel and in-stadium and online advertising. Moreover, Gazprom has the chance to participate in various marketing and promotion initiatives related to Champions League events.

Both parties have benefited from the link between Gazprom and the UEFA Champions League, making it successful. The sponsorship has improved Gazprom's global brand recognition and solidified its position as a significant player in the energy sector. The Champions League has benefited greatly from the sponsorship because it has helped finance the event and retain its standing as the most prestigious club competition in football.

Manchester United and Chevrolet

In 2014, Chevrolet agreed to a seven-year sponsorship agreement with Manchester United worth an estimated $559 million. Chevrolet sponsored Manchester United from 2014 to 2021. The jersey sponsorship agreement was one of the most wealthy in football history, reportedly at £64 million each season.

Chevrolet sponsored Manchester United's jerseys, having its emblem on the front. Chevrolet sponsored fan events, player appearances, and social media campaigns with the club in addition to shirt sponsorship. Manchester United invested heavily in new players, facilities, and technology thanks to the sponsorship arrangement. Some fans and critics questioned whether the sponsorship contract fit the club's beliefs and traditions.

Manchester United announced a new jersey sponsorship contract with TeamViewer in 2021, ending their Chevrolet sponsorship. The five-year shirt sponsorship contract is allegedly worth more than £235 million, making it one of football's biggest.

FC Barcelona and Qatar Airlines

In 2013, Qatar Airways became FC Barcelona's jersey sponsor, paying the team approximately $45 million per year. Qatar Airlines sponsored Barcelona from 2013 to 2017. Many fans and critics questioned the deal's compatibility with the club's history and principles.

Qatar Airlines sponsored FC Barcelona's jerseys, with its emblem on the front. Qatar Airways promoted the club through fan events, player appearances, and social media campaigns in addition to jersey sponsorship.

FC Barcelona invested heavily in new players, facilities, and technology owing to the sponsorship deal. Several supporters and critics questioned whether a club with such a strong tradition and identity should be sponsored by a firm from a country with a dismal human rights record.

FC Barcelona struck a jersey sponsorship contract with Rakuten in 2017, ending their connection with Qatar Airlines. One of football's greatest jersey sponsorship deals, also the new deal is allegedly worth €55 million per season.

Chelsea and Yokohama

Yokohama Rubber Corporation sponsored Chelsea FC from 2015 to 2020. The jersey sponsorship contract was one of the most lucrative in football history, reportedly at £40 million every season. Yokohama Rubber Corporation sponsored Chelsea's jerseys. Yokohama participated in fan events, player appearances, and social media campaigns with the club in addition to shirt sponsorship.

Chelsea's sponsorship deal provided new players, facilities, and technology funding. Yokohama Rubber Company used the relationship to boost brand awareness and global business. Blues signed a shirt sponsorship deal with Three UK in 2020, ending their affiliation with Yokohama Rubber Corporation. The new shirt sponsorship contract is among the richest in football history, reputedly costing more than £50 million per season.

Liverpool and Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered has been Liverpool's shirt sponsor since 2010, paying the team about $36 million each year. Liverpool and Standard Chartered have had a sponsorship arrangement since 2010, one of the longest and most substantial in English sports. The 2018 extension will last until 2023.

Liverpool's shirt sponsors are Standard Chartered, with the bank's logo prominently shown on the front. Standard Chartered's deal with Liverpool includes community and social responsibility projects and unique fan experiences.

Standard Chartered gained brand exposure, while Liverpool was able to acquire top players and compete in the Premier League and Europe. The bank has promoted Liverpool as a tourist destination through sponsorship. Standard Chartered and Liverpool have shown how jersey sponsorships can benefit both parties and boost success on and off the pitch.

Manchester City and Etihad Airlines

Etihad Airways has been Manchester City's jersey sponsor since 2009, paying the team about $80 million each year. Both parties have benefited from the partnership, with Etihad Airways increasing brand recognition and Manchester City winning multiple trophies.

Since 2009, Manchester City has sponsored Etihad Airlines, one of English football's biggest deals. 2015 extended the contract to 2021 and extended it again in 2021. Etihad Airlines is Manchester City's shirt sponsor, with its logo prominently displayed on the team's jerseys. The airline is Manchester City's official airline partner, providing travel for the team and fans and offering unique fan experiences.

Manchester City's jersey sponsorship agreement, at over £400 million, is one of the world's most valuable. The partnership funds Manchester City's team, facilities, and global commercial reach.

Etihad Airways gained brand exposure and Manchester City was able to acquire top players and compete in the Premier League and Europe. The airline's promotion of Manchester as a tourist destination has also raised the city's profile.

AC Milan and Fly Emirates

A sponsorship agreement between AC Milan and Emirates Airlines was established in 2010 and renewed in 2020. According to sources, the arrangement, which was one of the largest jersey sponsorship deals in Italian football history, was worth approximately €18 million per season, making it one of the most expensive of its kind, and has been renewed to €35 million per season.

According to the rules of the agreement, Emirates Airlines served as AC Milan's official shirt sponsor, and the airline's logo could be seen on the front of the team's shirts. Emirates became involved in a lot of marketing activities with the club, including fan events, player appearances, and social media campaigns, so the association went beyond a simple shirt sponsorship.

The sponsorship agreement thought to be a sizable source of income for AC Milan, assisting the team in making investments in new players, infrastructure, and technology. The collaboration also considered an opportunity for the Emirates to broaden its clientele and develop its operations internationally, notably in Italy.

Arsenal and Emirates

Emirates has been Arsenal's shirt sponsor since 2006, paying the team about $44 million each year. The deal has benefited both parties, with Emirates increasing brand recognition and Arsenal using the profits to build a new stadium and invest in players has become one of the longest sponsors in English sports. According to the new agreement, signed in 2018, Emirates will extend their deal till 2023-24.

Emirates is Arsenal's shirt sponsor, with its logo prominently displayed on the team's jerseys. Emirates is Arsenal's official airline partner and creates unique fan experiences and travel arrangements for the squad and fans. Arsenal's shirt sponsorship deal, at over £200 million, is one of the world's most profitable. The collaboration also funds Arsenal's team, facilities, and global commercial reach.

Emirates also gained brand exposure and Arsenal was able to attract top players and compete in the Premier League and Europe.

Real Madrid and Adidas

Adidas and Real Madrid have been partners since 1998, and the annual contract is worth approximately $113 million. Real Madrid has won multiple trophies while wearing an Adidas jersey. The deal was recently renewed in 2019. Adidas is Real Madrid's official kit supplier, which means that the German sportswear company designs and makes the team's game jerseys and training gear.

The sponsorship deal worth about €1.1 billion over 10 years, making it one of the most lucrative shirt deals in all of football. Real Madrid's partnership with Adidas is also one of the longest-lasting and most successful in the history of sports sponsorship. Both Real Madrid and Adidas have gotten a lot out of the partnership.

Adidas also works closely with Real Madrid to create new training and performance technologies. This is in addition to making high-quality kits and merchandise for the team. This has helped Real Madrid stay one of the most successful football teams in the world, both on and off the pitch.

Manchester United and Nike

Manchester United and Nike have had a legendary sponsorship deal. One of the longest-running industrial collaborations, the first contract was in 2002 and was renewed several times. Nike used to supply Manchester United's kits for $100 million per year.

Nike's brand awareness has expanded, while Manchester United's team and infrastructure have improved due to the deal. Manchester United's kits, particularly the 2008 Champions League final kit, have become iconic.

The 2012-13 away kit's blue and black camouflage pattern was one of the partnership's most inventive football kits. Manchester United and Nike released a limited edition 1990s-inspired kit to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their treble-winning season in 2014.

Nike's cutting-edge designs and premium materials made the Manchester United kit a global hit. The partnership has also produced many Manchester United-branded shoes, training gear, and accessories.

Manchester United also switched from Nike to Adidas in 2020. Despite this, Manchester United's Nike collaboration is one of football's most successful and iconic.

Manchester United and Adidas

Manchester United revealed a new 10-year relationship with Adidas valued at £900 million, making it the biggest kit contract in Premier League history.

The new agreement ensures a huge increase over the existing terms, giving the club £90 million each year, and extends United’s affiliation with the German sportswear giant as the club’s official uniform manufacturer until 2035.

United insiders claim that the agreement strengthens the club’s stability by providing them with clarity regarding their primary source of income for the ensuing ten years.

Richard Arnold, the chief executive officer of United, continued, “The partnership between Manchester United and adidas is one of the most enduring in all of sports, established through a shared dedication to style, flair, and—most importantly—high performance.

‘Adidas and Manchester United Football Club are delighted to announce the extension of one of the most exciting, seminal partnerships in world sport.‘

‘Manchester United commenced a historic agreement with adidas at the start of the 2015/16 season, reuniting after 23 years.’

In the seasons that have followed, adidas and Manchester United have excited fans around the world with forward-thinking initiatives, iconic designs on the pitch and fan favourite culturewear off of it.

‘The new deal increases the focus on the Manchester United women’s team since their re-introduction in 2018 – continuing Manchester United and adidas’ commitment to drive the women’s game forward.’

With its roots in the 1980s, our partnership has been reinvented over the past decade with some of the most innovative designs and technology in sportswear.

We are now looking forward to refreshing this powerful partnership again through the remainder of this decade and into the 2030s.’