Premier League football club Manchester City has signed a new partnership with China’s YuYuan Art Investment Group, based in Shenzhen.
Under the multi-year deal, YuYuan will become the club’s Official Art, Culture & Football Education Partner. YuYuan will also have LED presence, match-day branding and rights to host art displays at the Etihad Stadium.
As a group-wide partnership, YuYuan will collaborate with City Football Group’s wider club portfolio, including New York City FC, Melbourne City FC, FC Girona, Yokohama F. Marinos and its most recent addition, Sichuan Jiuniu FC.
Speaking at the launch event held at YuYuan Art Gallery in Shenzhen, Scott Munn, chief executive for City Football Group China, said: “China is an extremely important and exciting football market, which we have been focused on for some time. That is why we are so thrilled to be welcoming YuYuan Art into the City Football Group family.
“It is a unique and creative partnership where two organisations with a heritage of community values are collaborating to empower the lives of others. With a truly global approach, we’re excited to work together to create something new and meaningful.”
The partnership is aimed at educating young people in each City Football Group territory about art and football, and YuYuan will partner with City Football Group’s global foundation to promote social inclusion and wellbeing.
In an official club statement, Man City said YuYuan will create “a unique way of learning by integrating art into football training programmes and teacher education”.
Former Man City player Paul Dickov will act as an ambassador at key partnership events featuring YuYuan.