Chelsea launch home shirt without front of shirt sponsor
Chelsea have launched
their home shirt for the 2023/24 season without a front of shirt sponsor due to
the Premier League blocking their first choice.
A shirt deal with
telecommunications company Three was not renewed when it expired at the end of
last season.
The Premier League
blocked a deal with streaming service Paramount+, because of concerns about
upsetting its broadcast rights holders.
Chelsea decided
against a shirt sponsorship agreement with an online gambling company.
The club's
supporters' trust had spoken out against such a partnership, although it is
understood Chelsea had already ruled a deal before that.
In April, the
Premier League announced that gambling sponsors would be withdrawn from
the front of shirts by the end of the 2025-26 season.
Chelsea say the
shirt will go on sale on the website and in their shop on 16 August, three days
after their opening Premier League game against Liverpool. It will go on wide
sale on 23 August.
Reports suggest Chelsea
do intend to have a front-of-shirt sponsor this season but it is now likely
they will go on their pre-season tour of the United States without one - and
that there won't be one on the first tranche of sales to supporters.