Chelsea 'in talks' over deal that will ease any Profit and Sustainability concerns

Chelsea are said to be in talks over a possible deal that will help them in their bid to stay on the right side of Profit and Sustainability rules. The Blues have had a disappointed spell over recent years, and that has led to difficulty in the club finding a glitzy shirt sponsor.

The lack of Champions League football has meant Chelsea’s shirt sponsorship has been harder to sell, with the Blues still expecting a big chunk of money despite their lower status. Last season, the Blues started the campaign without a sponsor and ultimately reached a short-term deal with Infinite Athlete worth around £40-£43million.

But with that deal expiring in the summer, the Blues have once again been left without a sponsorship deal, and talks are still ongoing weeks into the season. According to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, talks are currently ongoing with Qatar Airlines over a possible deal, Qatar Airlines sponsor PSG in a deal worth more than £58million per season.

“Chelsea are in talks with Qatar Airways and two other major airlines about a front-of-shirt sponsorship deal,” Solhekol has said on X. “Chelsea started the season without a main shirt sponsor after Infinite Athlete deal ran out. No Champions League has made it more difficult to find the right deal.”

It’s unclear Chelsea will be asking for, but it’s likely to be more than the £43million they asked for last season, given they are in Europe this season, albeit only the Conference League. It’s also unclear whether the Blues are looking for another short-term deal or a long-term one, and in truth, the former may benefit them more in the long-term.

While it would leave Chelsea with more uncertainty next summer, should they reach the Champions League, they would find themselves in a position where they could demand a much juicier sponsorship deal.

In any case, a shirt sponsorship deal will help the club stay clear of Profit and Sustainability rules with all cleared sponsorship deals being exempt from financial regulations, meaning the cash can offset spending.