The Athletic reached out to 41 commercial companies associated with Manchester City, seeking comments on the club's financial breaches. Only 13 sponsors replied, while 21 chose to completely ignore the inquiry.
Among the key partners of the City slickers are Etihad Airways, the company after which their home ground is named, and technical sponsor Puma. The club signed a groundbreaking ten-year deal with the kit manufacturer in 2025, worth £100 million annually, making it the most lucrative contract of its kind in Premier League history. Etihad Airways, however, vehemently denies any wrongdoing in its sponsorship agreements and is currently weighing up a legal challenge against the Premier League.
Additionally, there are concerns regarding cryptocurrency exchange OKX, whose logo is emblazoned on the sleeves of the players’ shirts. The company previously admitted guilt in the US for executing funds transfers without the required licence, agreeing to pay over $500 million in fines. Furthermore, its European division was fined €1.1 million in Malta for breaching anti-money laundering regulations. OKX claimed that these past legal issues do not reflect its current operations.
Other partners associated with the club include Japanese firm Asahi, direct sales company QNET, developers Aldar Properties and Ohana Development, telecoms group e&, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental hotel, fan token platform Socios, digital bank Revolut, betting company Betway, and brands like Veritran, Lucozade, and Kellogg’s.
In January of this year, Manchester City signed a substantial agreement with Ohana Development to construct a residential complex of more than 2000 residences in Abu Dhabi, which will include an academy for the club.
Journalists at The Athletic noted direct ties of some sponsors to Abu Dhabi authorities. For instance, the chairman of Aldar Properties is the brother of Manchester City president Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Socios representatives stated that the club independently makes all operational decisions, and several other partners opted for silence until the completion of the appeal process.
Remember, the accusations against Manchester City stem from an investigation into financial breaches that occurred between 2009 and 2018. Following this, the club lodged an official appeal. A review of the case could result in severe penalties: from massive monetary fines and point deductions to complete expulsion from the Premier League. A final verdict has yet to be delivered.
