Chelsea sported IFS’s logo on the front of their shirts for the first time on Saturday.
IFS, an AI company, will be Chelsea’s front-of-shirt sponsor until the end of the season after striking a deal with the Blues earlier this week.
Liam Rosenior’s side could not get off to a winning start in their new shirts, drawing 1-1 with Burnley.
How are we calling Arsenal bottlers? 🤦♂️
What does Liam Rosenior need to do to change this?
Chelsea's dropped points from winning positions at home this season
Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP via Getty Images
Joao Pedro gave Chelsea an early lead, but it went to waste after Zian Flemming’s equaliser. Wesley Fofana was also sent off, which did not help his team’s cause.
Moises Caicedo of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Burnley
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Chelsea were close to landing Red Bull and Oracle deal
Before it was announced that IFS would be sponsoring Chelsea for the remainder of the campaign, Red Bull and Oracle were allegedly set to become the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor.
Journalist Simon Phillips has claimed on X that Chelsea were very close to entering a partnership with Red Bull and Oracle that would have seen the Blues don their logos.
In November, The Chelsea Chronicle had also been told that Oracle were on the verge of becoming Chelsea’s front-of-shirt sponsor.
QUESTION: If you could ignore the money and pick any brand to be on the front of the Chelsea shirt tomorrow, who are you choosing?💰
Various airlines, Red Bull and Paramount have been floated…
Chelsea FC v AFC Ajax - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
For whatever reason, though, nothing was finalised and Chelsea have once again had to settle for another temporary arrangement.
It comes after short-term deals with DAMAC and Infinite Athlete, who succeeded mobile network provider Three.
Detailed view of the Chelsea shirt sponsor
Photo by Izzy Poles – AMA/Getty Images
It was thought that Chelsea were waiting to get back into the Champions League before signing off on a new long-term front-of-shirt sponsor.
Last term, they managed to qualify for this season’s Champions League, yet the club still find themselves in the same situation.
To make matters worse, Chelsea are at risk of missing out on qualification for next year’s Champions League campaign.
If that happens, the Club World Cup winners are going to be in a much worse negotiating position than they were at the start of this season. This really has the potential to drag on, which is not good for the club’s finances.
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