- For the 2026–2027 season, Chelsea FC has designated Circle, the USDC issuer, as its Principal Partner and front-of-shirt sponsor.
- Chelsea’s men’s, women’s, and academy shirts will be branded with circles and USDC.
- The collaboration takes place months after the UK FCA alerted football teams to sponsorship agreements with unlicensed financial and cryptocurrency companies.
- The FCA has given Circle UK Trading Limited, the company’s UK division, permission to offer specific financial services. Despite Circle’s regulated UK operations, USDC is neither issued nor governed by UK legislation.
Chelsea Football Club has chosen Circle, the company that issues the USDC stablecoin, to be its Principal Partner and official front‑of‑shirt partner for the 2026/27 season.
This partnership will put Circle and USDC branding on Chelsea’s men’s, women’s and academy shirts. It gives the stablecoin issuer a global stage as it grows beyond the usual crypto markets.
Circle & USDC Join Chelsea Shirts
According to an announcement published on Friday, August 28, Circle’s branding will make its first appearance when Chelsea hosts Brighton in its first Premier League home game of the 2026/27 season on Sunday.
The deal brings another crypto-related company into one of football’s most visible sponsorship positions. It also strengthens Chelsea’s relationship with the digital asset sector, which has become increasingly active in football sponsorships in recent years.
Circle said the partnership reflects its broader vision for USDC as a way to move money globally at internet speed, around the clock. As the use of stablecoins grows outside cryptocurrency trading, the company expects that they can facilitate faster and easier cross-border payments.
According to Jeremy Allaire, CEO and co-founder of Circle, the collaboration with Chelsea links the business with a global sports community.
Chelsea Deal Comes After FCA Warning
This sponsorship comes months after the UK Financial Conduct Authority warned football clubs about questionable sponsorship agreements with unauthorized financial firms, including crypto companies. The FCA said some unauthorized firms were using football sponsorships to target fans and potentially breach UK financial services laws.
Circle’s UK arm, Circle UK Trading Limited, has been authorized by the FCA to provide certain financial services in the country since 2018. However, Circle clarified that USDC is issued by certain regulated affiliates and is not issued or regulated under UK law.
An FCA spokesperson declined to comment specifically on the Chelsea-Circle partnership. Circle also told Cointelegraph that the deal is focused on building its brand rather than serving as a financial promotion.
Circle Expands Global USDC Presence
The Chelsea partnership comes as Circle continues expanding the reach of USDC worldwide.
USDC circulation reached $73.3 billion at the end of the second quarter, up 19% year over year. Circle also reported $701 million in quarterly revenue and reserve income.
The company has expanded its regulated operations in the US and is exploring new payment use cases internationally. In July, Japanese payments group JCB agreed with a Circle affiliate to test USDC payments in Japan, initially focusing on cross-border transfers.
Chelsea has also maintained ties with the crypto industry. Crypto exchange BingX partnered with the club in 2024 and later became its Official Men’s Training Kit Partner for the 2025/26 season.
Stay informed with the latest trends in Web3, blockchain innovation, and cybersecurity updates at 3verseTV
You need to login in order to Like
Leave a comment