Chelsea
have announced their "largest ever commercial deal" with Yokohama Rubber,
reportedly worth £40m-a-year.
Yokohama Rubber, one of the world's leading tyre manufacturers, has signed a
five-year deal beginning from the 2015-16 season and their logo will appear
on all the Blues' shirts from the first team to their youth teams.
The deal eclipses the previous £18m-a-year deal with Samsung and could place
Chelsea second only to Manchester United's £53m-a-year deal with Chevrolet.
The agreement was wrapped-up today after talks in London between Yokohama
chairman Tadanobu Nagumo and Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, before photoshoots
with manager José Mourinho and club captain John Terry.
Blues chief Buck said: "Chelsea and Yokohama are a perfect fit. Both are
global organisations with a focus on performance and innovation, as well as
having huge ambition and an unwavering culture of success.
“We believe that Yokohama will play a key role in helping us drive our
global expansion in international markets, such as the United States, where
they have operated with distinction for many years.
"Also, of course, Chelsea having such an esteemed and historic Japanese
company as our partner enables us to accelerate our development in their
home market too.
''We are also looking forward to working with Yokohama on our community
projects around the world through the Chelsea Foundation, when together we
can use the power of sport as a force for good."
Yokahama boss Nagumo said: “This shirt partnership with Chelsea will give
Yokohama an opportunity to showcase our company to a huge worldwide audience
thanks to Chelsea’s ever-growing popularity."
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