Telecommunications company Orange has enhanced its partnership with Olympique de Marseille by becoming the main sponsor of the French Ligue 1 football club.
Orange already holds naming rights to Marseille’s home ground, the Stade Vélodrome, and under the new agreement its branding will appear on the front of the team’s shirts.
The partnership will run until the end of the 2021-22 season, with Orange’s logo to adorn the club’s kits for the remainder of the 2017-18 season and the 2018-19 campaign.
The deal also grants Orange a range of marketing and digital rights. Activations will also be launched for Marseille supporters and Orange customers as part of the agreement.
The partnership began yesterday (Sunday) with Marseille’s 3-3 draw with RC Strasbourg. Marseille had begun the season without a shirt sponsor.
Jacques-Henri Eyraud, president of Olympique de Marseille, said: “Olympique de Marseille is very proud of developing its collaboration with one of its most loyal partners, recognised as one of the leading companies worldwide.
“It has been more than a decade since the club and Orange began working hand in hand in a relationship of mutual trust. This agreement is in line with Olympique de Marseille’s desire to develop its activities with recognised and ambitious partners.”
Orange first partnered with Marseille in 1999 and took on naming rights to the Vélodrome last year.