Vitesse Arnhem extends Abramovich ties with Truphone deal

Global mobile network Truphone has agreed a three-year deal to become the main sponsor of Dutch Eredivisie football team Vitesse Arnhem through the 2016-17 season.

Truphone is part-owned by Roman Abramovich – owner of English Premier League club Chelsea. Its branding will appear on the front of players’ jerseys throughout the deal, which will begin in the 2014-15 campaign.

The deal also includes various other branding opportunities at the club, access to players for product launches and marketing, and use of the club’s corporate hospitality and training facilities.

The arrangement will also strengthen Vitesse’s relationship with Chelsea. The Dutch club has taken a number of players on loan from the EPL side in recent years and following Abramovich’s decision to purchase a 23.3 per cent stake in Truphone last year, this relationship is likely to develop further.

Vitesse Arnhem finished sixth in the 2013-14 Eredivisie to qualify for the European competition play-offs and the chance to enter the second qualifying round of the Uefa Europa League European club competition. However, the club lost 5-1 on aggregate to Groningen in the semi-final and did not progress further.