Chelsea Football Club has secured a multi-year partnership with IFS, a global provider of Industrial AI software, with the IFS logo appearing on the team’s shirts for the remainder of the 2025/26 season, effective immediately. The agreement, announced Tuesday, February 20, 2026, elevates IFS to the role of Principal Partner.
The collaboration will see IFS integrate its AI-powered software solutions across Chelsea’s operations, aiming to improve performance both on and off the pitch. According to a joint statement, the partnership will focus on leveraging AI to enhance “football performance, operational excellence and fan engagement.”
“We are incredibly proud to partner with IFS and leverage their leading edge AI software to help propel the club to even greater success,” said Jason Gannon, President of Chelsea FC. “This partnership is a statement of intent to keep leading in this field, harnessing the opportunities advanced technology brings and unlocking the power of AI to improve everything we do on and off the pitch.”
IFS, described as the world’s leading provider of Industrial AI software, intends to apply its technology to drive “precision across the club’s operations,” according to the company. Mark Moffat, Chief Executive Officer of IFS, stated, “In sport as in industry, the margins are tiny, the stakes are high, and the right decision at the right moment is everything. That’s what IFS Industrial AI delivers for the industries that power the global economy. Chelsea FC holds itself to that same uncompromising standard, and that shared ambition is exactly why we’re proud to be their Principal Partner.”
The partnership arrives after Chelsea operated without a front-of-shirt sponsor for a period following the complete of a temporary deal with DAMAC last summer, as reported by The Athletic. The financial terms of the agreement with IFS have not been publicly disclosed, but sources indicate the valuation aligns with the club’s expectations.
Chelsea’s decision to prioritize a long-term technology partnership reflects a broader strategic shift towards integrating advanced technologies into all facets of the club’s operations, according to club officials. The agreement with IFS extends through 2028.
