AI software company IFS will feature on the front of Chelsea’s shirts for the remainder of the 2025-26 season as part of a wider multi-year global partnership with the English Premier League soccer giants.
The tech firm will serve as the club’s principal partner and will also be visible on the front of the women’s team’s shirts.
The IFS logo debuted on the Chelsea men’s shirts during the club’s 1-1 draw against Burnley on Saturday.
GlobalData Sport values the overall deal at around $30 million.
Through the tie-up, Chelsea will utilize IFS software and its AI agents to “drive precision across the club’s operations, enhancing performance in almost every aspect of the club’s work.”
Jason Gannon, president of Chelsea, said: “We are incredibly proud to partner with IFS and leverage their leading-edge AI software to help propel the club to even greater success.
“This partnership is a statement of intent to keep leading in this field, harnessing the opportunities advanced technology brings and unlocking the power of AI to improve everything we do on and off the pitch.”
As with the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, Chelsea started this campaign without a primary shirt sponsor.
But for the third consecutive season, the west London-based club has secured a partner during the campaign on a short-term deal through the end of the year.
Dubai-based luxury real estate company Damac Properties took on shirt sponsorship rights for multiple games in the latter stages of last season, which included the UEFA Conference League final that Chelsea won.
In the prior year, Infinite Athlete agreed to a deal with the club in late September 2023.
In the past two seasons, Chelsea has offered short-term shirt sponsorship rights to Damac Properties and now IFS as part of a wider global partnership, which could be a strategic shift by the club as it struggles to secure a long-term partner on lucrative terms.
Despite their difficulties in finding a shirt sponsor, Chelsea has had more success with other inventory.
In October, the Premier League outfit expanded its partnership with FPT, making the Vietnamese tech solutions firm its sleeve sponsor for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.
FPT replaced ticketing platform LiveNation, which was Chelsea’s sleeve sponsor from February 2025 through to the Club World Cup final (which Chelsea also won) in July, and remains a partner of the club despite stepping back from sponsorship duties.
In what has become a trend for the club, Live Nation took over from rival events and ticketing platform Fever, which became the west London-based club’s sleeve sponsor in a short-term deal at the start of last season.
In recent months, Chelsea have announced commercial deals with Pegasus Airlines and major soft drinks brand Coca-Cola.
At the end of September, Chelsea reorganized its commercial team, announcing the departure of chief revenue officer Casper Stylsvig and consolidating the role of commercial president Kline.
Kline now leads the club’s commercial team and joined Chelsea’s business leadership team along with chief digital officer Phil Lynch, who will continue to head up the club’s marketing, content, and product divisions.
Meanwhile, IFS also recently announced a sponsorship deal with the new Cadillac Formula 1 team, which is majority owned by TWG Global, the investment vehicle of Chelsea part-owner Mark Walter, a long-time business partner of the club’s chairman, Todd Boehly.
