Chelsea Set to Unveil New Kit Without Sponsor
Chelsea are set to reveal their new kit for the 2023/24 season on Monday – but their shirt will not feature a sponsor on the front. This will make the Blues the first of the so-called ‘Big Six’ teams in the Premier League to have launched a shirt without a main sponsor.
The club’s previous sponsorship agreement with telecommunications company Three, worth £40 million a year, ended in the summer and Chelsea have been on the lookout for a new partner ever since. So why exactly won’t Chelsea’s new design feature a sponsor as fans ready themselves to get their hands on the new Nike kit? Here is everything you need to know.
Why Won’t Chelsea’s New Kit Have a Sponsor?
Chelsea find themselves in this situation because several deals have fallen through in recent weeks. Firstly, a financially lucrative deal with Paramount+ collapsed last month after the Premier League refused the club permission. This was over fears that a deal with the American streaming service would upset the competition’s existing broadcast partners and break Premier League rules.
Negotiations were reportedly at an advanced stage and club insiders were surprised that the deal was stopped given Paramount+ is not a direct rival of Sky Sports and BT Sport. Chelsea then turned their attention to online casino Stake and a one-year deal had been agreed. However, this prompted a furious backlash from fans who were uneasy about having a gambling company on the front of their kit.
Chelsea have also reportedly seen negotiations with an unnamed cryptocurrency company break down whilst they are also believed to have turned down an offer from Allianz. So with the Premier League giants unable to strike an agreement over a new front of shirt sponsor, the club have decided to launch their new kit regardless to ensure fans have time to buy it ahead of the start of the season.
According to the MailOnline, Chelsea could even hand out patches that fans can iron onto their shirts if and when the club finally settle on a sponsor.
What Will Chelsea Do Now?
With no sponsor secured for their new kit, Chelsea will now be looking to strike a deal as soon as possible. The club are said to be in talks with several potential partners but it is unclear how long it will take for an agreement to be reached.
In the meantime, Chelsea will be hoping that their decision to launch their new kit without a sponsor will not affect sales. Fans have already been able to pre-order the shirt and it is expected that it will be a popular item when it is officially unveiled on Monday.
Conclusion
Chelsea’s decision to launch their new kit without a sponsor is certainly an unusual one and it remains to be seen whether or not it will pay off for them in the long run. The club are still in talks with potential partners and it is hoped that they will be able to secure a deal soon so that fans can enjoy wearing their new shirt with pride.