Chelsea agree front-of-shirt sponsorship with IFS for the remainder of 2025/26 season | OneFootball

Chelsea have announced an agreement with Industrial AI company IFS to become their new front-of-shirt sponsor for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

The deal elevates IFS to Principal Partner status with immediate effect, ending a period in which the club had operated without a permanent front-of-shirt sponsor.

Chelsea’s shirts had been without a long-term branding partner since the conclusion of a temporary arrangement last summer.

While the financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed, the overall partnership between Chelsea and IFS will run until 2028.

The IFS logo will debut on the men’s shirts in the Premier League fixture against Burnley this weekend.

The women’s team will also feature the branding in their upcoming FA Cup tie at Kingsmeadow.

The partnership is positioned as more than a commercial arrangement.

Chelsea have confirmed that IFS’s AI technology will be embedded into various aspects of the club’s operations.

The software is expected to support performance analysis, operational processes and broader strategic planning.

Club president Jason Gannon described the agreement as a statement of intent, emphasising the ambition to harness advanced technology across football and business functions.

IFS chief executive Mark Moffat highlighted the shared emphasis on precision and marginal gains, drawing parallels between elite sport and industrial performance.

The agreement reflects Chelsea’s broader commercial strategy in recent seasons.

Rather than committing quickly to a long-term shirt sponsor, the club have prioritised flexibility while exploring multiple partnerships.

Since the end of their previous long-term front-of-shirt deal in 2023, Chelsea have relied on shorter arrangements.

This latest development provides immediate commercial stability while leaving room for future negotiations.

The club continue to hold discussions regarding sponsorship beyond next season, with all options understood to remain open.

Aligning with technology-focused companies appears central to Chelsea’s direction, following previous sleeve sponsorship and digital partnerships.

Supporters will inevitably question the absence of a longer-term front-of-shirt contract.

However, Chelsea’s hierarchy view the integration of technology and diversified commercial relationships as part of a broader long-term model.

The IFS agreement signals that the club are seeking value not only in revenue but in operational advancement.

For now, Chelsea move forward with a new name on their shirts and a renewed emphasis on innovation both on and off the pitch.