Mastercard moves into English women’s club game with WSL winners Arsenal

May 21 – Arsenal’s women’s team, just crowned as Women’s Super League (WSL) champions, have unveiled Mastercard as their first major Official Partner. No value or term was given for the deal.

Arsenal commercial director, Peter Silverstone said: “This partnership is extremely important for the growth of the women’s game. Mastercard’s partnership with us isn’t just an investment into our own team, but is a powerful statement for the women’s game at large.”

In picking Arsenal, Mastercard have aligned with the most successful women’s team in Engliosh football and, according to the club, one of the most followed women’s team globally. Arsenal Women have won 60 trophies and are the most followed women’s sports team in the world on Facebook with nearly five million likes.

The sponsorship is very much focussed on the top end of the women’s game but with a view to promoting diversity and raising awareness of the women’s game, encouraging new investment, and competition in the game in general.

Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications officer, Mastercard, said: “By investing significantly in women’s football, as a professional and influential sport, we have an opportunity to directly impact the lives of athletes and help build sustainable programmes to which girls and women around the world can aspire.”

Arsenal Women have been confirmed as part of the pre-season Emirates Cup line-up held at Emirates Stadium on Saturday 28 July against Bayern Munich Women. More evidence of the progress the women’s game both in terms of its increasingly attractive public profile but also its progression into acceptance within the men’s professional ranks.

Arsenal’s managing director, Vinai Venkatesham said: “Arsenal Women has such a rich history of success and the club’s long-standing commitment to growing and developing the women’s game has ensured the team has stayed at the top of their own game for over 30 years.

“We’re the most successful team in women’s football in England – something we’re all incredibly proud of at Arsenal – but we don’t want to stop there. Partnering with a global player like Mastercard is a huge statement for women’s sport.  The partnership will help us build on our success, but it will also promote the women’s game globally and continue to develop and attract the world’s best talent and inspire generations of young sportswomen.”

Contact the writer of this story at paul.nicholson@insideworldfootball.com