Chelsea Football Club has announced a significant new commercial partnership with IFS, the world’s leading provider of Industrial AI software, marking a strategic step into the intersection of advanced technology and elite football.The multi-year global agreement elevates IFS to Principal Partner status with immediate effect. As part of the deal, the IFS logo will feature prominently on the front of both the men’s and women’s first-team kits for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
This ends a prolonged period without a permanent front-of-shirt sponsor for the Blues, who have previously used short-term arrangements with partners such as Infinite Athlete and DAMAC Properties. Chelsea, fresh off their FIFA Club World Cup triumph, described the collaboration as “the beginning of a long-term collaboration that places advanced AI at the heart of football performance, operational excellence and fan engagement.”
The partnership extends beyond traditional sponsorship, with IFS committing to integrate its market-leading AI agents and software to enhance precision across the club’s operations—from on-pitch analysis to behind-the-scenes efficiency and global fan experiences.Club president Jason Gannon expressed enthusiasm for the tie-up, stating that Chelsea is “incredibly proud to partner with IFS and leverage their leading-edge AI software to help propel the club to even greater success.” IFS CEO Mark Moffat echoed the sentiment, highlighting shared values of innovation and high standards: “We’re proud to be their principal partner.
“The front-of-shirt element is confirmed only through the end of the current campaign, with the IFS branding set to debut on the men’s team shirts in their Premier League fixture against Burnley and on the women’s kits for their FA Women’s Cup clash with Manchester United. The broader partnership, however, is understood to run until at least 2028, providing Chelsea with ongoing technological support and commercial stability.
While the exact financial terms of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed, Chelsea officials have stated that the deal aligns with the club’s expectations. Reports suggest the club has been targeting £60–65 million per season for a full long-term front-of-shirt sponsorship, reflecting ambitions to secure one of the Premier League’s most lucrative kit deals following the end of their previous agreement with Three in 2023.
The IFS arrangement is widely viewed as an interim bridge, delivering immediate revenue while Chelsea continues negotiations for a higher-value, permanent main sponsor.This partnership underscores Chelsea’s push toward innovation under their current ownership, building on recent sleeve sponsorships and other tech-aligned deals. Fans have already shown strong initial support, with social media buzzing about the “new era” of AI-powered football at Stamford Bridge.As Chelsea looks ahead to the closing months of the 2025/26 season and beyond, the collaboration with IFS signals a clear statement of intent: blending world-class sporting ambition with cutting-edge industrial intelligence to drive future success on and off the pitch.