Circle’s USDC lands historic Chelsea FC shirt sponsorship

Circle secures Chelsea FC’s shirt sponsorship for 2026/27, marking the Premier League’s first principal crypto sponsor. USDC branding will feature on all team kits, expanding crypto’s role in football.

Circle Internet Group has signed a landmark sponsorship deal with Chelsea FC, becoming the club’s principal front-of-shirt sponsor starting from the 2026/27 Premier League season. Circle and its USDC stablecoin branding will appear on the shirts of Chelsea’s men’s, women’s, and academy teams, marking the first time a cryptocurrency financial services company has secured such a sponsorship in the Premier League. The new kits will debut during Chelsea’s home match against Brighton & Hove Albion. While financial terms remain undisclosed, reports indicate Chelsea was seeking an annual sponsorship value of approximately £65 million ($88.3 million). This agreement ends Chelsea’s three-year search for a permanent front-of-shirt sponsor and significantly boosts USDC’s global visibility. Circle’s FCA e-money license was a crucial regulatory requirement for the partnership, highlighting the growing integration of cryptocurrency in mainstream sports and finance.