Stablecoin issuer Circle will feature its USDC stablecoin brand on Chelsea’s shirts for the 2026/27 season. The deal makes Circle the first crypto financial-services company to become the main shirt sponsor of a Premier League club.
The Circle and USDC brands will appear on Chelsea’s men’s, women’s and academy shirts. The new shirts will debut Sunday when Chelsea host Brighton & Hove Albion in their first Premier League home game of the season.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Chelsea had reportedly sought about £65 million ($88 million) a year for the front-of-shirt position after leaving it vacant for much of the past three seasons.
USDC Enters Premier League Spotlight
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire said the partnership reflects the company’s view that money should move across borders as easily as information.
“We built USDC on the belief that money should work seamlessly for everyone everywhere, the way the internet does,” Allaire said.
Related: Why Banks Are Suddenly Embracing the Stablecoins They Once Feared
The deal comes as stablecoins gain wider use in payments and other financial services. Circle says USDC allows businesses and individuals to send and receive dollar-denominated payments around the clock.
Crypto companies have previously sponsored Premier League clubs. OKX sponsors Manchester City, while Kraken sponsors Tottenham Hotspur.
FCA Scrutiny Adds Regulatory Angle
The partnership comes amid broader FCA scrutiny of unauthorized crypto promotions in the UK. Circle holds an FCA e-money license obtained in 2016 and will feature its USDC brand throughout the 2026/27 campaign.
Related: Visa and Upbit’s Stablecoin Push Raises a Bigger Question for India’s Crypto Payments Market
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