August 4 – EA Sports has signed on to become an Official Partner of the English Football League (EFL), in a six-year agreement to become the league’s on-screen data partner and the first sponsor of the new digital streaming service, iFollow, that launches with the season kick-off tonight (Friday).
August 4 – The United Soccer League (USL), the second tier of US professional football, has announced an expanded 31-week season for 2018, with clubs playing 34 games.
August 4 – Leicester City have renewed motor and travel insurance provider DirectAsia for a second year as an Official Partner. No value was put on the deal that focus on south-east Asia.
August 3 – Adidas has signed a record breaking six year renewal with Major League Soccer reckoned to be worth more than $700 million, according to reports.
By Paul Nicholson
August 3 – The battle for Britain’s punters is well and truly on. Bookmaker William Hill has promised a social media onslaught to win customers after first half profits fell 7% to £93.5 million on turnover of £837 million. Meanwhile, rival Ladbrokes was setting up for this weekend’s start of the Championship season, becoming Sheffield United’s Official Stadium Betting partner.
August 2 – Sunderland, relegated from the Premier League last season but now gearing up for the Championship after a summer of aborted takeover talk, have turned back to business matters and signed UK bookmaker Coral as a club partner.
August 1 – Portugal and Real Madrid social media machine Ronaldo has taken his digital immersion a step further buying a majority ownership position in Portuguese digital agency Thing Pink.
August 1 – Real Madrid has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with retail foreign exchange broker Exness which will become the Spanish club’s official trading partner for the next three years.
July 31 – Eight more qualifiers have made their way through to the FIFA Interactive World Cup Grand Final to be held in London August 15-17.
July 28 – Arsenal have extended their partnership with China-based technology provider BNN Technology through to the end of the 2019/20 season.
July 27 – Former Premier League club Aston Villa, battling to return to former glories and top flight status after a season in the Championship, are still able to attract high end sponsors with Hisense unveiled as the club’s new official technology partner.
July 27 – The French Professional Football League (LFP) has renewed partnership with BeIN Sports, Orange and Webedia for its e-Ligue 1 for a further two years. Title sponsor Orange will continue in its role until the end of the 2018/19 season.
July 27 –Premier League Liverpool have signed Tibet Water Resources as their Official Regional Water Partner in China.
July 25 – West Ham are in the second group of six clubs FIFA has announced will compete in the first edition of the Interactive Club World Cup (FICWC) competition in London on August 5. Other clubs announced were VfL Wolfsburg, Olympique Lyonnais, Heracles, Sporting C.P. and PSV Eindhoven.
July 25 – Chelsea have issued an apology to the Chinese people over the actions of their young Brazilian player Kenedy who made “offensive social media posts” during the club’s pre-season tour of the country.