Chelsea Announce £40m Shirt Sponsorship

Chelsea have announced their largest ever commercial deal with Yokohama Rubber, which is reportedly worth £40m a year.

The Japanese firm, 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 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."