'Tis the season of contract renewals with a major announcement that could affect Arsenal in the next couple of years forthcoming.
According to @Lu_Class_ on Twitter, La Liga giants Real Madrid and Emirates renewed their long-term partnership that will run until the end of the 2025/26 season in a contract worth €70m a year. It is also claimed that under the agreement, the current Champions League holders may receive additional bonuses (about €7m - £6.1m) for successes on the pitch
Of course, Arsenal - as well as many other clubs in Europe - are also sponsored by Emirates and might be in line to begin negotiations regarding a renewal of their own after signing a five-year extension in February 2018 for the popular airline to remain as their shirt sponsor until the end of next season.
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"Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, and Arsenal Football Club, have today announced a new sponsorship deal," a statement read. "The sponsorship, the largest ever signed by the club and one of the biggest ever agreed in football, grants the airline a 5-year extension to their shirt partnership with the Club until the end of the 2023-2024 season."
Furthermore, at the time, Emirates President, Sir Tim Clark, said: "Arsenal’s strong appeal and influence around the globe, combined with their ambitions as a Club makes them an ideal partner for Emirates, with values that reflect ours as a brand. As a long-standing supporter of football, we are passionate about the game and are a proud partner to the team.
"As a business, we are hugely committed to supporting sports all over the world and our relationship with Arsenal is no different. Our partnership with Arsenal Football Club is a great combination of two truly global brands and we’re very pleased to have extended this relationship for five more years – connecting fans from around the world with one of the greatest teams in the world."
With the renewal between Arsenal and Emirates described as "the largest ever signed by the club and one of the biggest ever agreed in football" as per the BBC, the size of the deal was believed to be in excess of £200m. Although, as per AS, that estimated figure is still around £45m less than Real Madrid's lucrative deal when they first agreed a five-year renewal two months later.
What could happen next for Arsenal?
Considering Los Blancos' deal with Emirates was due to expire at the end of the season, if reports that they have renewed the partnership with around nine months to spare are indeed true, then that may indicate what's in store for Arsenal over the next 12 months.
"In addition to being shirt sponsors, with the Emirates brand continuing to appear on Arsenal’s playing and training kits, Emirates will provide access to their award winning planes for Arsenal to use on pre-season tours," a statement from the aforementioned press release in 2018 continues.
"Emirates will retain marketing rights to develop campaigns and initiatives around the world. Arsenal's home will continue to be known as Emirates Stadium up to 2028, as part of the extension agreed in 2012."
This would suggest that Emirates will continue to be Arsenal's shirt sponsor for at least another five-and-a-half years as the popular airline have already signed Emirates Stadium naming rights to 2028 and it makes sense for all parties to continue with this partnership until then.
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