Chelsea have agreed a deal with industrial AI company IFS to sponsor their front of shirts for the remainder of the season.
as The Athletic It was reported last month that Chelsea were confident of securing a deal before the end of the campaign and that negotiations were underway with a number of companies.
The club’s kits have not featured a sponsor on the front of the shirt since a temporary seven-game arrangement with DAMAC ended last summer.
The valuation of the deal with IFS, which will remain the club’s partner until 2028, has not been disclosed at this time, but is in line with the club’s expectations for such a deal.
Chelsea FC President Jason Gannon said: “We are extremely proud to partner with IFS and leverage their cutting-edge AI software to lead our club to even greater success.”
“This partnership is a statement of our intention to continue leading in this field, harnessing the opportunities presented by advanced technology and unlocking the power of AI to improve everything we do on and off the pitch.”
Commenting on the agreement, IFS CEO Mark Moffatt said: “In sports, like in industry, margins are small, stakes are high and it’s all about the right decisions at the right time. That’s what IFS Industrial AI brings to the industries that power the global economy.”
“Chelsea FC adheres to the same uncompromising standards and their shared ambition is why we are proud to be their principal partner.”
IFS, now the club’s 14th global partner, is the latest technology company to partner with Chelsea. In October, the club announced a sleeve sponsorship deal with Vietnamese technology company FPT until the end of the campaign. Chelsea are working to secure a multi-year sleeve sponsor from 2026 onwards.
On January 19, IFS announced its partnership with Sri Lanka Cricket as the official team sponsor of the Sri Lankan national team for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) is also an investor in the AI company.
Chelsea’s shirts featuring the IFS logo will be unveiled for the first time in the men’s home game against Burnley on Saturday afternoon, while the women’s team will wear them for the first time in Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round match against Manchester United at Kingsmeadow.
What does this mean for Chelsea?
Chelsea finally have a sponsor on the front of their shirt, but there will always be questions from supporters as to why short-term deals once again and long-term deals continue to elude them.
Since a three-year deal with telecoms company Three expired at the end of the 2022-23 season, Chelsea have shirt-front deals with Infinite Athlete (from September 2023 until the end of the same season) and DAMAC (last seven games of last season’s Premier League and UEFA Conference).
It is clear that something is better than nothing, and it should be emphasized that the overall partnership with IFS is until 2028. However, Chelsea are still in the position of having to come up with a solution regarding the front of the shirt for 2026-2027 and beyond.
The Athletic Multiple discussions are reportedly underway with multiple companies in this regard. With all options on the table, IFS remains a contender for next season.
Chelsea believe they have a different approach to how they work, as well as their transfer policy and the decision to give players long-term contracts. When signing a multi-year contract, it’s not just about financial aspects; it’s also about finding the right partner.
One of the reasons why our relationship with IFS is so attractive is that their technology will also be integrated into our clubs. This agreement, in addition to the agreement with shirtsleeve sponsor FPT (agreed in October), shows where Chelsea’s intentions lie. The idea is to partner with technology-focused companies.
as The Athletic As we explained last month, Chelsea are increasing their number of partners. More information will be announced before this campaign ends.
Fans will continue to wonder how much financial loss the club will incur by not allowing more time. However, Chelsea also believe they would have better returns overall if they had revenue from multiple partners rather than just the shirt sponsorship front, and this is one reason why they are willing to wait for a suitable agreement.
This approach still carries risks. If Chelsea fail to finish in the top five in the Premier League and qualify for the Champions League this season, or finish this season with some sort of silver medal, it will certainly affect their bargaining position.
