Chinese telecommunications company Huawei has further expanded its football portfolio after entering into a shirt sponsorship deal with Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A team Santos.
Under the deal, Huawei will become a top-tier master partner of the club through to the end of the current Copa do Brasil and Campeonato Brasileiro campaigns with a view to extending the agreement beyond this point.
Huawei branding will appear on the front and back of players’ shirts during Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa do Brasil matches.
Jason Zhao, president of Huawei Brasil, said the agreement would help expand the firm’s presence in the country. He added: “This partnership reinforces Huawei's commitment to the Brazilian consumer and its tight integration with the local market.”
Santos becomes the latest club to join Huawei’s expanding portfolio of leading football teams. In September, Huawei agreed a two-year deal with Spanish Liga champion Atletico Madrid, as well as a contract with Galatasaray to become the Turkish Super Lig club's main shirt sponsor in domestic competitions during the 2014-15 season.
In July the company signed a two-year deal with German Bundesliga club Schalke 04 having recently agreed deals with Dutch Eredivisie champion Ajax and French Ligue 1 winner Paris Saint-Germain. Huawei also has deals in place with Italian Serie A giant AC Milan and English Premier League club Arsenal, along with the Spanish Football League (LFP).