Chelsea FC's Search for a New Shirt Sponsor: The Latest Updates and Rumors
Chelsea Football Club is currently the only Premier League team without a matchday shirt sponsor for the 2025-26 season. Nottingham Forest has recently partnered with American gambling company Bally's, leaving Chelsea in search of the right long-term sponsor. The club is looking to secure a deal worth £60m-£65m per season after their successful Champions League qualification and victory in the revamped Fifa Club World Cup. Riyadh Air, a new Saudi Arabia airline, is rumored to be a potential sponsor for Chelsea.
Last season, Chelsea had no front-of-shirt sponsor until April when they partnered with Dubai-based property company Damac. In the 2023-24 season, they started without a shirt sponsor until securing a deal with US sports technology firm Infinite Athlete. In the 2024-25 campaign, 11 Premier League teams had gambling sponsors on their matchday shirts, but none of the top six wealthiest clubs featured a gambling firm on their shirts.
Premier League clubs collectively agreed to remove gambling sponsorship from the front of their kits by the end of the 2025-26 season. However, they can still secure new shirt-front deals this season and continue featuring gambling brands on shirt sleeves and LED advertising. Under-18 players are not allowed to wear shirts with gambling sponsors, and this ban will be enforced from the next season following a consultation between the league, clubs, and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport.
The ongoing review of current gambling legislation has prompted these changes, and the BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team is dedicated to providing information and answering questions related to sports. They aim to inform and engage with their audience by sharing insights and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of sports. Stay tuned for more updates and exclusive content from BBC Sport across various platforms.