Yokohama has ended its Chelsea shirt sponsorship after “five very successful years”. However, the Japanese tyre manufacturer will now be the team’s Official Global Tyre Partner.
Mobile network Three has since been named as the new shirt sponsors in a three-year deal. Three’s logo will appear on all of Chelsea’s shirts from 2020/21, including Chelsea Women and Academy sides as well as the men’s team.
Chelsea’s statement follows rumours that the football team was considering a new shirt sponsor.
Yokohama’s £200 million five-year sponsorship contract with Chelsea was the second biggest in the Premier League when it was announced in 2015. The current deal, which ends this season, has therefore been worth approximately £40 million (€44.5 million) per year.
In the five years of Yokohama’s shirt sponsorship, the Chelsea men’s team were crowned the 2016/17 Premier League champions. They also lifted the FA Cup in 2018. And last season won the Europa League trophy. Chelsea Women won their league and cup double during this period. And the Academy sides continued a long run of success in the FA Youth Cup.
Masataka Yamaishi, president and chairman of the board of the Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd, added: “Chelsea is a world-class football club and we have been proud of our partnership and presence on the prestigious shirt for the last five years. Yokohama and Chelsea have many shared values, including a dedication to high performance and innovation, which has resonated with fans and our customers alike around the world. We’ve shared many successes together so far in our story, and we are pleased to be able to continue building on this with our renewed partnership.”
