MANCHESTER United have agreed a British record é56.5million shirt sponsorship deal with US finance giant American International Group (AIG).
United chief executive David Gill confirmed the four-year deal, which dwarfs the é10million-a-season contract Premiership champions Chelsea have with Samsung, at Old Trafford this lunchtime.
Although the figure is less than Gibraltar-based gaming company Mansion were prepared to pay, there were widespread concerns within club circles about being linked so heavily with a gambling organisation.
It means AIG will be only the third company to have their name on the famous red shirt, following on from Sharp and Vodafone.
While sum is slightly less than the world record é15million-a-year Juventus receive from Libyan oil company Tamoil, it still represents a major coup for Gill and his negotiation team, who have confounded the predictions of many pundits who felt they would struggle to match the é9million-a-year deal Vodafone decided to terminate two years early.
éLetés be clear,é said Gill.
éWe passed up the opportunity to do the worldés biggest shirt deal to do the right shirt deal, one that is right for Manchester United and one that underlines our position as the worldés leading club.
éAIGés global operations complement our great fanbase and we are excited about the global prospects this relationship brings.
Announcement
éThis is a blue chip deal for a blue chip club.é
The announcement had been widely anticipated following Mansionés public accusations of édouble-dealingé on Monday when they confirmed Unitedés commercial director Andy Anson had terminated discussions with the company on Sunday evening.
Anson has been widely criticised by some vocal sections of the United support for his failure to secure a replacement more swiftly but he was extensively involved in talks over a new deal, along with Gill and Bryan Glazer.
Red Devils officials have been angered at frequent suggestions that the much-cherished éUnitedé brand had been badly tarnished by the Malcolm Glazer takeover and the figures involved in the AIG deal provide proof the Americanés controversial é790million buy-out has had no impact on the clubés standing in the commercial world.
Neither, it appears, has the recent relative lack of success affected the clubés popularity and the club are likely to set a new ground attendance record for a league game at Old Trafford this Sunday when Champions League semi-finalists Arsenal visit.
Gill added: éOn and off the pitch, Manchester United always seeks to be both the first and the best.
éWe do things differently to others. Whether ités our faith in our Academy over the years, or our approach to sponsors - we are unique.
éThe Manchester United shirt is the most iconic image in world sport and the chance for companies to appear on it is very rare.
éThis deal re-establishes the club firmly among the most valuable names in world sport.é
What do you make of the deal? Have your say.
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who cares as long as we have the funds to bring in world class players.
Well at least they aren't called FIG! I'm not fussed as lond as money is available for the new players needed. Success on the pitch is obviously essential for everyone now.
Fantastic. IN GLAZER WE TRUST.
A great deal for the club and everyone involved with Manchester United!Even though the sum is less it is still the greatest in the premiership and we wont be fronting a gambling company. Well done David Gill
It would have been nice to have a world record deal, but if they think this is the right sponsor then well done Gill.
Given the size of the debt, this does not make the slightest difference to the fans who will never see the money, either in pegged ticket prices or increased transfer budget.
what a surprize are sponsors are american,on the plus side just over 14 million a year will come in handy. I belive it is the 2nd biggest sponsorship deal in world football just behind juventus. Its just a shame we turned down 13million to be sponsored by mansion but I understand why.
When are you lot going to incorporate the stars and stripes into your club badge?
lets see how much of that we get to spend on a new midfield!!!
nothing to be proud of look at Barca a proper football club they refuse to sully their shirt with a sponsor . still will go towards the 70 million a year needed to service Malcolms debt the plan to make up the shortfall will become apparent when we receive our ticket renewals
This is absolutely wonderful news, a record UK deal brokered by the brilliance of Bryan Glazer.
The franchise now has a first class company sponsor, which will almost certainly be here for the long term.
It is yet another sign that the future is rosy under the ownership of the Glazers and I'm particularly happy that we have taken the record from Chelsea and their patronising and pompous chief executive.
I will now review all my insurance policies to determine which ones I can swap to AIG or their subsidiaries.
Well done once again to Bryan Glazer and the rest of the negotiating team.
You have made my week!
Now that SAF has the funds to buy some quality players, I hope we aren't looking in the bargain bins. Also, I'm glad we don't have some gambling company logo on our shirts! M'boro's 888.com looks cheap and nasty.
though a bit diasappointin that the figure wasnt closer to the 70 mill mansion were going to pay i believe that the board did the right thing in not sacrificng united's name and reputation for financial gain...the sponsorship along wit offloadin some extra players namely fletcher ruud and richardson should make it easier for us to go for the big names in summer like diarra/masherano and riquelme rather than duscher?!?!?! lets welcome our new sponsors with a premiership title nex year(and possibly this year) and a Champions league medal...we've got what it takes!
The Mansion deal would have been a world-record but it was passed up in favour of a lower deal more appropriate to the club's image (someone said blue-chip in an official statement but I can't bring myself to use that colour in relation to United!). So far, so good under the Glazers who many thought would be money-grabbing at the expense of club traditions and reputation. Credit where it's due I say - this is good news.
That will give us some extra cash for marscherno.
AIG = ALEX IS GOD.
yay...money!!!
PERFECT NEWS...THIS WILL RELEASE FUNDS FOR WORLD CLASS PLAYERS TO ARRIVE.
ROBINSON/DIARRA/MASCHERANO/RIQUELME.
Remeber last August,Glazers out,Fergie out,we win the Carling Cup,second in the league chasing the top spot,playing fast and furious attacking football,reserves looking good and developing,now this massive sponsorship.Fergie is grinning from ear to ear,no doubt.
Most of this money will end up in the bank accounts of agents and players, do you think ticket prices will be stabilised? It's incredible that the increased amounts of money in football has increased the amount of debt.
As long as it's not changing every year or sports an obvious gambling organization, it's fine with me. AIG is a solid backer can be counted on to be around for the life of the deal.
Lets have it right. Gill as described United as a blue chip club. That should complement the bitters blue ketchup on sale at the last derby
Who needs Kenyon???
Bring on Arsenal!
We should have waited for Thomas Cook to finish with Cit'eh and then Ruud, Rio and Co could have had a free holiday at Butlins, Minehead (Gold Cabin Status)
Blimey, East Grinstead used to be the home of cults. It would appear this honour has shifted to southend on sea.
Stuart Webb.
I am amazed people can be so fickle...change your insurance company! Your 'avin a Peter Kenyon me old cockanee trifle. Blimey wotcha...