The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. and the English Premier League’s Chelsea Football Club have signed a five-year sponsorship agreement, beginning in July 2015.
The agreement will place the Yokohama logo on the team's shirts and also allow for Yokohama branding at the team's stadium. In exchange the team's players and coach will make appearances on the tire maker's various advertising and promotional materials.
Yokohama says it aims to improve its brand awareness and reach out to society as it continues its expansion on a global scale as set in Phase IV of the company’s medium-term management plan Grand Design 100. The plan's goal is to expand net sales to 770 billion yen with an operating income of 80 billion yen and an operating profit margin of 10.4% by 2017.
The Chelsea Football Club plays in the English first division, or Premier League. It has been crowned Champions of England four times, as well as the winner of 7 FA Cups. Internationally the Club was the winner of the UEFA Champions League in the 2011-2012 season. Chelsea FC is a world leading football team that also won the UEFA Europa League in the 2012-2013 season.
In addition to possessing some of the world’s most recognizable players, Chelsea is coached by Jose Mourinho, one of the most successful figures in the game. Chelsea has also invested in its future with a state-of-the-art Academy and training centre in Cobham, Surrey. Since its opening in 2007, the club has reached five FA Youth Cup finals, lifting the trophy three times.
Additionally, the Chelsea Foundation boasts one of the most extensive community initiatives in sport, working in 30 countries around the world, helping improve the lives of more than 900,000 children and young people each year.
