Chelsea FC Elevates FPT to Principal Partner Status in Multi-Million Pound Deal
Chelsea Football Club has officially elevated its partnership with FPT Corporation, Asia-Pacific’s leading technology solutions provider, to Principal Partner status for the 2025/26 seasona strategic move that underscores the growing influence of tech firms in elite football sponsorship.
Note: This is a sleeve sponsor not a front of the shirt sponsor.
A Strategic Upgrade in the Sponsorship Hierarchy
The announcement, made via Chelsea’s official website, confirms that FPT will now join the club’s top-tier sponsors, gaining enhanced visibility across digital platforms, matchday assets, and global activations. This marks a significant upgrade from their previous role as Official Technology Partner, which began in 2023.
While financial terms were not publicly disclosed, industry estimates suggest that Principal Partner deals in the Premier League typically range between £20 million to £40 million per season (KSh 3.7 billion to KSh 7.4 billion per season) Such figures place the deal among the most lucrative tech-sports partnerships involving an Asian firm and a top-six English club.
Why FPT and Chelsea Make Strategic Sense
FPT, headquartered in Vietnam, has rapidly expanded its global footprint, offering AI, cloud, and digital transformation services to Fortune 500 clients. Chelsea’s global fanbase, estimated at over 500 million provides FPT with a high-impact platform to showcase its innovation credentials.
The partnership will include:
– Joint digital transformation initiatives across Chelsea’s operations
– Fan engagement activations in Asia-Pacific and Africa
– Branding rights on Chelsea’s digital channels and Stamford Bridge assets.
This aligns with Chelsea’s broader commercial strategy under BlueCo ownership, which seeks to diversify revenue streams and deepen ties with emerging markets.–
Chelsea’s elevation of FPT to Principal Partner status is more than a sponsorship, it’s a strategic alliance between sport and technology, with ripple effects across global football. As the business of football continues to digitize, such partnerships will define the next era of club growth, fan experience, and commercial innovation.
