Huawei and Arsenal announce global partnership

Premier League club chooses Huawei as Official Smartphone Partner

Mobilk - Huawei, the leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, and Arsenal Football Club today announced a new partnership, which will see the telecommunications specialist become the Official Smartphone Partner of the north London club on a global basis.

Huawei and Arsenal announced the global deal, which lasts until the end of season 2015/16 at the Arsenal Training Centre in Colney, Hertfordshire, with members of the first team including, Aaron Ramsey, Lukas Podolski and Mesut Özil along with manager Arsène Wenger. The partnership will be officially unveiled to supporters at the Emirates Stadium in London before the Premier League clash with Fulham Football Club on Saturday, January 18, 2014.

The deal brings together two high performing organisations with a global presence; Huawei, a global technology and communications market leader, and Arsenal FC, one of the world’s biggest football clubs. 

Tom Fox, Chief Commercial Officer at Arsenal Football Club, said: "We are delighted to welcome Huawei to Arsenal as an official partner. This is the first global deal we have signed with a Chinese brand, demonstrating our long-term commitment to the market through pre-season tours and sustained digital fan engagement. Huawei is a genuine leader in its field serving more than a third of the world’s population with its information and communications technology. We are delighted to be partnering with Huawei at such an exciting time in the development of its brand globally, and in particular in the UK and Europe."

 

The partnership will see global collaboration between the two brands, with Arsenal FC’s officials and players taking part in Huawei’s communication and promotional activities both in the UK and overseas.

Ashraf Fawakherji, Vice President of Huawei Device Middle East said: "Huawei is delighted to partner with Arsenal, one of the world’s leading football clubs. We are a young, dynamic brand, as well as a technical leader in our field and this makes us a great brand match for a club with the global stature of Arsenal. We look forward to working with all the team at Emirates Stadium over the coming years.”

The partnership will also include exclusive offers, content and brand presence during Arsenal matches, as well as through the Club’s digital and social media platforms. In addition, Huawei will have access to the Club’s extensive marketing database and exclusive match day hospitality for competition winners at Emirates Stadium.

Last year Huawei invested in its global sports marketing program, signing a premium sponsorship agreement with AC Milan, becoming the official Mobile Partner and supplier of the communications solutions for the Premier League Club. The company also signed a contract with Liga De Fútbol Profesional (LFP) in December 2013, which will see Huawei become LFP’s global technology partner. Last year Huawei also stepped up as the leading sponsor of the Huawei 5th GCC National Teams Under 23 Football Championship and as a supporting partner of the popular Al Roudan Football Tournament 2013. Huawei has also sponsored the Twister Duo aerobatic team at last year’s popular Al Ain Aerobatic Airshow, one of the region’s most widely anticipated aerobatic events held in Al Ain. 

Having started as telecommunication technologies and equipment supplier, Huawei has gradually moved into the consumer world with a wide range of mobile devices and connectivity products. Over the past year Huawei has achieved particularly rapid growth in the global smartphone market as one of the top three global smartphone brands, according to research from Strategy Analytics and IDC in 2013.