Manchester City looks to the future with kit sleeve sponsor

Avatar
Manchester City & OKX
Image credit: Manchester City

English Premier League titan Manchester City has signed a new multi-year sleeve sponsorship with leading crypto exchange OKX.

The deal is an expansion of a pre-existing one that began in March 2022. Since then, the partnership has evolved to include OKX’s brand featuring on the left sleeve of both city’s men’s and women’s first teams, as well as being the club’s Official Training Kit Partner for the 2022/23 season.

The new deal will also allow for OKX to be appear across some of the clubs other digital and physical club assets.

OKX is one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges by trading volume and is one of Web3’s leading technology companies. It offers numerous financial services in the cryosphere including the trading of tokens, the buying and selling of NFTs, and the managing of crypto portfolios for their customers.

Ferran Soriano, CEO at City Football Group, expressed their excitement with the new deal highlighting the opportunity partnering with OKX and Web3 will have for City’s global fan engagement.

“We are very proud to have OKX represented on the sleeve of the Manchester City shirt. Both OKX and Manchester City are leading companies driven by a passion for innovation,” he said via press release.

“We have already seen great Web3 experiences designed by OKX for Manchester City’s global fan base and there will be many more to come. This is a very exciting partnership.”

Haider Rafique, CMO at OKX, also expressed their pleasure with the deal’s expansion.

“The journey with the Man City team has been incredible,” he said via press release.

“Manchester City was our first official global brand partnership and in just a year and a half we have come a long way.

“We always intended to integrate with the sport and help the Club lead on leaning into Web3. Fast forward 15 months, we now have a metaverse, an NFT initiative and a number of other new projects that we are excited about.

“The sleeve partnership brings us closer to City fans across the globe, and we look forward to collaborating to create unique, exciting and innovative engagements through Web3 technology.

“As the Club’s Official Cryptocurrency Exchange Partner, fans can expect amazing things every time they interact with OKX.”

This new deal and its expansion are a great opportunity for the global club to connect with their worldwide fan base. Likewise, it also offers fans a great way to engage with the Manchester based club from the over 180 regions were OKX operates.

This partnership seems a perfect one for the modern club as it shows their commitment to not only engaging with its global fan base but also helping those fans participate in one of finances fastest growing and exciting sectors.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Blacktown District Soccer Football Association Launches Youth League and Poaching Program

Avatar
Image Credit: Football NSW

Blacktown District Soccer Football Association has outlined a package of initiatives for the 2026 season centred on youth development, coach education and the celebration of female participation, as the Western Sydney association moves to raise standards across community football and strengthen pathways into state-level competition.

The centrepiece of the association’s development agenda is the Blacktown Youth Development League, a new competition structure spanning all youth Division One competitions in the Under-13 to Under-18 age groups, including Phoenix League female competitions involving both BDSFA and GDSFA clubs. The league applies a benchmarking framework adapted from Football NSW‘s junior competition standards, with clubs encouraged to implement structured training environments including a minimum of two sessions per week where possible.

BDSFA General Manager Owen Liiv said the initiative responded to clear demand from within the football community for more substantive development environments.

“It is pretty clear that people want more and better football experiences,” Liiv said. “The measure for us is high-quality youth football competitions within Blacktown and ultimately, stronger performances in state-wide competitions such as the Football NSW State Cup or Football NSW Champion of Champions.”

The referees branch will support the league by prioritising Division One fixtures and providing three-person match control where available, an operational commitment that acknowledges the role officiating quality plays in the overall development environment.

The Managerial Infrastructure

Running alongside the youth competition is a free coach education program, with Foundation of Football courses delivered across BDSFA’s 24 member clubs by permanent association staff. With more than 1,000 registered coaches across the district, BDSFA has set a target of 85 percent achieving Foundation of Football accreditation within three years. Removing cost as a barrier to accreditation is a deliberate structural choice, reflecting growing recognition across Australian football that coaching quality at community level is inseparable from participation outcomes.

The association also launched Female Football Week with a “Cocktails on the Pitch” event at Blacktown Football Park, attended by close to 100 players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers. Former Matilda Leah Blayney addressed the gathering, speaking about her pathway from Wentworth Falls to international football. BDSFA has indicated the event is likely to become an annual fixture on the association calendar.

Taken together, the initiatives reflect an association investing deliberately in the structural conditions that determine whether community football grows sustainably rather than opportunistically.

Manchester City open new training centre for Women’s First Team

Avatar
Image credit: Manchester City

The training centre opened earlier this week, following years of planning, investment and ambition for Manchester City Women.

State-of-the-art facilities

Recently crowned WSL Champions, Manchester City Women will now be able to train, prepare and recover in a truly special, purpose-built facility.

Covering 17,000 square feet, a world-class gym, strength & conditioning facilities and dressing room, the site will help players  to maximise performances on the pitch.

But given the facilities also received input from players and staff, inspiring added touches like social spaces and recognition for players with over 100 appearances, it is clear that this is a deeply personal project for all involved at Manchester City Women.

As Managing Director of Manchester City Women, Charlotte O’Neill, highlighted, the training centre is a symbol of excellence and ambition.

“This building is about so much more than bricks and mortar,” O’Neill said via press release.

“It is about creating an environment here our players can thrive, where standards are set at the very highest level and where the current squad has everything it needs to continue to compete for and win silverware.”

A winning project, for a winning team. The training centre is sure to propel Manchester City Women to even greater heights in the seasons to come.

 

Continuing investment trends

Furthermore, as the result of an AUD 18.6 million (GBP 10 million) investment and purpose-built for Manchester City Women, it is yet another example of the current strength of WSL investment.

Just a few weeks ago, Brighton & Hove Albion unveiled plans to construct a new venue for its women’s team, delivering on a clear intention to support commercial growth and infrastructure in the women’s game.

But even after winning their first WSL title this season, the message from the board is clear: Manchester City Women are a fundamental part of the club’s long-term vision.

“This new facility marks the next logical step in our long-term commitment to Manchester City Women, and is an important milestone for the club as a whole,” said Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

“We have always believed in investing to create the right environment for players and staff to develop and succeed. That approach has underpinned every aspect of our work since the professional relaunch of Manchester City Women in 2014.”

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend