Chelsea Soccer Club Partners With Circle's USDC Stablecoin

Circle, the digital asset company behind the USDC stablecoin, has announced a partnership with Chelsea soccer club. As part of this agreement, Circle's name and logo will appear on Chelsea players' jerseys during the 2026-2027 season.

The deal is significant as it follows a warning from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to Premier League clubs about potential unauthorized sponsorship agreements with crypto businesses. However, Circle's UK subsidiary has been authorized by the FCA since 2018 to provide certain financial services to UK residents.

USDC, a centralized cryptocurrency pegged to the US dollar, is managed by a consortium founded by Circle. Although the stablecoin itself is not issued or regulated under UK law, Circle stated that USDC is 'issued by certain regulated affiliates.' The debut of the USDC-branded kit will take place on August 30 in a match against Brighton.

The terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but media reports suggest Chelsea expects to earn £65 million per year from this partnership. As lawmakers work to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets, Circle's deal with Chelsea highlights the growing presence of cryptocurrency in traditional industries.