Arsenal are set to generate more sponsorship revenue than Manchester United for the first time in the modern era, Sporting News understands.
The Gunners are projected to secure £164 million (around $210m USD) from key sponsorship deals during the 2025/26 season, edging out United’s £160m (approximately $205m USD).
It marks a significant moment for the north London side, whose resurgence under Mikel Arteta has fuelled both sporting and financial growth.
United’s commercial power has taken a noticeable hit after their raining kit agreement with blockchain company Tezos – worth close to £20m ($25m USD) annually – was not renewed, while Adidas cut £10m ($12.8m USD) from their yearly payments after Ruben Amorim’s team failed to qualify for the Champions League.
The club are expected to seek ways of plugging the shortfall, potentially through new sponsorship agreements or the sale of naming rights for their redeveloped Carrington training ground.
AON previously held those rights in a deal worth between £15m–£17m ($19m–$22m USD) per year.
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The Gunners meanwhile, are entering the final year of their sleeve sponsorship with Visit Rwanda and are expected to renegotiate the partnership at a significantly higher rate, with a deal likely to exceed £15m ($19m USD) per season.
According to the latest valuations, the 10 most valuable football brands in the Premier League are worth almost £7 billion ($8.9bn USD).
Newcastle recorded the biggest brand growth at 20%, followed by Arsenal and Aston Villa with increases of 17% each. The sharpest declines were seen at Manchester United (-14%) and Manchester City (-13%), underlining a turbulent year for both clubs on and off the pitch.
The focus now turns back to the pitch for Arsenal, who face United in their Premier League opener at Old Trafford on Sunday, with 15-year-old Max Dowman included in the travelling squad for the Gunners.
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