Why don’t Chelsea have a shirt sponsor and what was their last one?

Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro don Chelsea’s sponsor-less shirts (Picture: Getty Images)

Chelsea remain the only Premier League club without a shirt sponsor as the top flight action gets back underway after the international break.

Front of shirt sponsors have been a fixture for professional teams for a long time now, so for one of the biggest clubs in the world not to be sporting one looks pretty odd.

It is not the first time the Blues have gone without a main shirt sponsor, though, as they lacked a logo on their chests for some of last season as well.

The west London club also doesn’t currently have a sleeve sponsor, having previously boasted a range of companies on their arms since the 2017-18 season.

It would seem that Chelsea are missing out on some money and potential sponsors are missing out on a lot of exposure.

Enzo Maresca’s side won the Club World Cup in America over the summer without a shirt sponsor and have started the new season well as the situation continues, sitting second in the Premier League table.

So why are the Blues without a sponsor and is the situation going to change?

Chelsea are still looking for a main sponsor (Picture: Getty Images)

Why don’t Chelsea have a shirt sponsor?

Chelsea are looking to bring in a sponsor for the front of their shirt, but are yet to strike the deal they are looking for.

Ahead of the new Premier League season starting last month, the BBC reported that there was ‘an ongoing competitive process’ and that the club was ‘believed to have had offers’ but has not settled on the right option.

The report stated that Chelsea were looking to bring in around £60m-£65m per season for a shirt sponsor thanks to their return to the Champions League and their Club World Cup glory.

However, the longer into the season they go, the less they will be able to charge for the rest of the campaign, you would think.

Chelsea won the Europa Conference League in Damac-sponsored shirts (Picture: Getty Images)

What was Chelsea’s last shirt sponsor?

Chelsea spent most of last season without a shirt sponsor, although did sign one up for the final few games of the season.

It was announced in late April that Dubai-based property firm Damac would sponsor the Blues’ shirts and did so for the final seven matches of the campaign.

Infinite Athlete were the sponsors in the 2023-24 season, but only signed a one-year deal and it was not extended.

How much is a lack of sponsor costing Chelsea?

Backing up the reports that Chelsea were hoping to secure a deal worth around £60m for their shirt sponsor, FFP expert Stefan Borson also feels that is the figure they will miss out on if they go the whole season without sorting something out.

‘If they went the whole season without it, it would be very significant,’ Borson told Football Insider in August.

‘I think it would be at least £60million if it went the whole season. But I’ll take them at their word that they’re about to sign something very big, and then there won’t be a hole and it’ll actually end up being £60million just for the front of the shirt if you take them at their word.

‘It seems very strange to me that they haven’t done it yet.’

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