Arsenal secures Emirates sponsorship extension amid reported value surge

Arsenal have reportedly finalised an extension to their sponsorship agreement with Emirates, securing a significant increase in value over the current £45m-a-year deal. The extension was agreed two years early, as the existing contract was scheduled to run until 2028. The deal includes naming rights for the stadium and front-of-shirt sponsorship for both the men’s and women’s teams.

Juliet Slot, the club’s outgoing chief commercial officer, is credited with finalising the extension as one of her final acts before departing the club later this year. The agreement covers both the stadium naming rights, originally agreed in 2012, and the kit deal, which was renewed in 2023. Both previous contracts were set to expire in two years, providing the club with an opportunity to negotiate both extensions simultaneously.

Reports from The Telegraph and The Times suggest the new deal could be worth approximately £70m annually, plus performance-related bonuses of up to £15m. These bonuses are contingent on the club’s success in domestic and international competitions. The extension effectively extends the 20-year partnership between the club and the airline beyond its original expiry date.

The club has experienced a strong season of progress on and off the pitch, providing a favourable context for the negotiations. Emirates previously held both stadium naming and shirt rights, giving them a strong position to retain the partnership. The club is seeking to leverage this financial boost for potential transfer business before the end of the summer window.

Both Arsenal and Emirates are currently declining to comment on the reports. It remains unclear how long the new agreement will last or how the performance bonuses will be structured. The club is expected to provide official confirmation in due course.