Manchester United confirm EA Sports as the club’s official gaming partner – Daily Mail

Manchester United have announced EA Sports as their next official global partner.

The global gaming company will be the club’s official football video game partner for the next three years.

It is the latest commercial deal that United’s managing director Richard Arnold has managed to broker.

As part of the deal fans will be able to access special content, social campaigns, wallpapers and FIFA 17 covers. 

United’s supporters have also been given their first glimpse of Paul Pogba back at the club where he spent his youth career.

New pictures released show the world record signing in his No 6 shirt on the Old Trafford pitch as the floodlights shine. United fans will be able to try Pogba out for themselves on FIFA 17 when the game is released in the UK on September 29.

EA Sports was this week announced as the lead sponsor of the Premier League, which means it will receive on-screen branding during this season’s global broadcasts, as well as sponsoring the official player of the month and player of the season awards. 

For United it represents yet another huge deal. The club now have 24 official global partners. Add together their regional, media and financial partners, and they have over 70 commercial contracts in place.

That is more than double any other Premier League side and the businesses linked to Jose Mourinho’s side include a variety of industries including nutritional supplements, ready-meals, outdoor apparel and a casual footwear.

Richard Branson’s Virgin Money signed up to a four-year deal with the club in July – a partnership that made the 66-year-old’s firm the official retail financial services partner at Old Trafford.

But while that deal was purely financial, this partnership, according to Arnold, is about exciting and engaging more of the club’s younger supporters.  

‘The ability to bring sports fans together is simply in EA Sports’ DNA,’ he said.

‘By having these innovators on board with our family of global partners, we’re pledging to our 659 million followers that they can look forward to great content and concepts over the coming seasons. 

‘That much is evident in the exciting piece released today and the trailer for FIFA 17 The Journey, drawing on our unrivalled record of giving youth a chance.

‘This announcement will no doubt excite many of our younger fans, and indeed some of our players, who will have grown up with the franchise and other EA SPORTS phenomena.’

EA Sports vice-president of marketing Jamie McKinlay added: ‘We are very excited to be joining Manchester United as a global partner. 

‘It’s a great opportunity for us to create even more authentic experiences for our players and bring fans of one of the most storied clubs in the world closer to the team and its star-studded line-up.’