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Joseph Parker Signs Long-Term Promotional Deal With BOXXER And Sky Sports

BOXXER, the next generation boxing promotion and exclusive provider of boxing content to Sky Sports, today announced the signing of former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (30-2, 21 KO’s) to an exclusive long-term promotional agreement.

The former WBO heavyweight champion entered the professional ranks in 2012, having represented New Zealand at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and narrowly missed out on a place in the 2012 Olympic squad.

His impressive mix of technical boxing skills and knockout power quickly carried him up the rankings and into world title contention, culminating in his winning the WBO World Heavyweight Championship in 2016 and holding it for two years.

Currently ranked #4 in the world by Ring Magazine, #2 by the WBO and #3 by the WBC, Parker’s presence in the upper echelon of the heavyweight ranks has never been in dispute.

Now just 30 years old, the New Zealand power-puncher can look forward to a renewed assault at world heavyweight championships under the BOXXER and Sky Sports banner.

“This is a massive signing for BOXXER. Joe Parker is one of the best heavyweights in world boxing and we are delighted to welcome him to the team. Every ranking body has him high in their list and now he’s entering his prime, we look forward to taking him back to world title opportunities and some huge events here in the UK,” said Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO and founder.

“In signing with Ben Shalom and BOXXER I’m excited for the next phase of my career, where I will become a two-time world champion on Sky Sports, the best TV platform in sports. I’ve had a great relationship with Sky Sports in the past, with many great fight nights against the leading British heavyweights – I’ll fight absolutely anyone put in front of me,” said Parker.

Adam Smith, Head of Boxing Development for Sky Sports, “I am absolutely thrilled that Joseph is joining the new era of Sky and BOXXER. This is a major announcement in the heavyweight division!

“I have known Joe for years – he has always brought entertainment and will fight anyone. Moreover he is a charming gentleman and is revered over on our shores just like he is in New Zealand. We will get right behind Joe as he aims to become heavyweight champion all over again!”

News of Parker’s debut for BOXXER and Sky Sports will be announced in the near future.

Wasserman Acquires Mullhaupt Management To Boost Golf Division

Wasserman has acquired Mullhaupt Management and hired Chris Mullhaupt as Vice President, Golf, announced today by Wasserman Managing Executive, Golf, Bud Martin. Mullhaupt brings his full roster of top women’s and men’s golfers to Wasserman’s golf division.

“Chris is an exceptional agent, and someone who has made a big impact on the industry in a very short period of time,” said Martin. “The addition of Chris and his clients will further strengthen what we believe to be the industry-leading talent representation practice in golf, and his work specifically with women athletes further underscores Wasserman’s long-standing investment in women and commitment to elevating women in sport.”

“I admire Wasserman and their comprehensive devotion to all aspects of the golf world,” said Mullhaupt. “The work that the executives and agents at Wasserman produce is renowned in our business, and their client-first approach matches my ethos. The resources and network that Wasserman provides will be hugely beneficial to the women and men I represent, and I’m excited to get to work.”

Mullhaupt represents a number of accomplished clients on both the LPGA and PGA Tours. His roster includes world #2 and Olympic Gold medalist Nelly Korda, Jessica Korda, former U.S. Amateur champions Curtis Luck and Doc Redman, as well as Bud Cauley, Braden Thornberry, Zac Blair and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard.

Long-time Korda family manager Patricio Apey, who has been involved in the careers of the Korda family from the onset, will continue to work hand-in-hand with Wasserman and Mullhaupt in all aspects of their careers moving forward.

Prior to joining Wasserman, Mullhaupt was the founder of Mullhaupt Management, and brings over a decade of experience representing professional golfers. He played college golf at Ole Miss and is married to his wife, Ann. They currently reside in Chagrin Falls, OH.

DAZN And Anthony Joshua Ink Major Partnership For Future Fights

The two-time heavyweight champion of the world has inked a deal with DAZN.

DAZN Group, the global sports entertainment company, has confirmed a ground-breaking deal that will see Joshua’s future fights broadcast on DAZN’s sport entertainment platform to customers worldwide.

DAZN is the global home of boxing, offering its customers unrivalled access to elite fighters such as including Canelo Álvarez, Ryan Garcia, Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin, and Katie Taylor.

Expanding on their existing relationship, Joshua has deepened his partnership with DAZN by becoming a shareholder, special advisor, and brand ambassador for the business. As a special advisor, Joshua will join DAZN’s strategic advisory board as the business develops its global boxing offering by providing a richer and more immersive experience for its customers.

“I am entering a new phase in my career with a new training environment, new coaches and now a new broadcaster,” said Anthony Joshua. “Negotiations at this level take time so I am pleased to have it all wrapped up and now I can fully focus on giving the fans and DAZN what they want, knockouts in the glamour division.

“I’ve been working with DAZN and following its progress for a long time. We have enjoyed a really successful partnership in the US for many years and I know the team and understand the passion and drive of the business.

“DAZN’s vision and passion to innovate is what attracted me to the partnership. They are leading the digital landscape in sport and the future of sports broadcasting. I am really looking forward to a long and successful partnership.”

Eddie Hearn added: “We have been successfully working in partnership with DAZN for many years now and this new announcement with Anthony Joshua emphasises why they continue to set the standard for the future of sports broadcasting.

“We have a shared vision with DAZN to make it the unrivalled home of boxing for fans across the world. Now with Anthony joining the team the stage is set to do even more together and we are looking forward to getting started.”

“AJ is a hugely popular and influential sportsman,” said Shay Segev, CEO, DAZN Group. “His alignment with us and his investment in our business speaks volumes. This deal is his seal of approval for our vision and our direction as a business. We welcome his passion, his drive and – most significantly – the vast audiences he attracts.

“In addition to being a world-class fighter, Joshua is an entrepreneur and businessman. He founded management business 258 MGT in 2016 and represents boxing’s greatest rising stars, including Josh Buatsi, Derek Chisora and Ben Whittaker. His partnership with DAZN is a testament to his belief in the business strategy.”

“We are delighted to have concluded this landmark agreement with DAZN. I would like to thank the whole team at DAZN, 258MGT and Matchroom Boxing for helping bring this deal to completion,” said Freddie Cunningham, 258MGT Managing Director.

“We were really impressed with the vision DAZN showed us for the future of Anthony’s career, it was clear from the discussions that we have a shared goal of bringing the fans the biggest fights possible and a partner committed to investing heavily to make them happen.”

SailGP Renews Distribution Partnership With Story10

SailGP, the purpose driven global sailing championship, and Story10, the global sports video production and distribution agency, have renewed their partnership to increase international event exposure and fan engagement of Season 3 of SailGP.

After two successful seasons, SailGP Season 3 features a busier race course, with new franchise teams Canada and Switzerland added to the roster, as well as an expanded calendar that spans 2022-23 and combines previous SailGP venues such as Bermuda, Plymouth, Saint-Tropez, Cádiz and San Francisco with new destinations including Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Singapore and Christchurch. One final venue is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, to complete an 11-event season.

Partnering with Story10 for Season 2, SailGP’s VNR content was shared around the world via 377 different media organisations. The renewed partnership will see Story10 continue to actively distribute and promote SailGP VNR content from each event, including all race highlights, pre- and post-race reaction, as well as athlete features and social initiatives, to their engaged global distribution network of 400+ media outlets, across broadcast, digital and social, bringing fans worldwide even closer to the action.

Utilising Story10’s partner network will ensure that content is promoted in key markets across multiple platforms, including guaranteed placement on sport-dedicated social channels, driving awareness, and reaching potential new audiences globally. All video distribution will be underpinned with bespoke usage and data insights, enabling SailGP to tailor its content, drive fan engagement and demonstrate tangible value to current and potential sponsors.

For the second season running, all the teams will include female athletes as part of SailGP’s Women’s Pathway, which aims to fast-track the training and development of female athletes with the goal of creating an inclusive sporting championship that has gender equity. In a bid to accelerate the program, for Season 3, each team will have three female athletes join throughout the season to gain vital training and racing experience on the F50.

It’s also the second season of SailGP’s pioneering Impact League, a second podium for the planet which tracks the positive actions the teams make to reduce their overall carbon footprint and help accelerate inclusivity in sailing. SailGP’s Inspire program, a first-of-its-kind global youth sailing and career program, will also continue next season.

SailGP Chief Content Officer Melissa Lawton said: “As SailGP continues to expand its calendar and its teams, we are also attracting larger audiences than ever to our world class broadcast product. Our successful partnership with Story10 will once again allow us to serve our dedicated fans, wherever they are in the world, and welcome new ones to SailGP in Season 3.”

James Dobbs, Managing Director of Story10’s parent company SNTV, said: “We’re thrilled to renew our partnership with SailGP. After the success of the second season, it is fantastic to continue building exposure of SailGP’s brand through our unique global distribution network, driving international reach and fan engagement for SailGP, whilst delivering high quality sporting drama to our audiences worldwide.”

BLAST Premier Expands Global Reach With DAZN Media Rights Partnership

Counter-Strike tournament series to be broadcast across DAZN’s global streaming service in biggest esports partnership

Esports entertainment company BLAST has expanded its global broadcast reach after agreeing a media rights partnership with DAZN Group, the leading global sports entertainment company, for 2022.

The partnership will amplify BLAST Premier, meaning the global Counter-Strike tournament. The series will be available across over 100 of DAZN’s territories, live and on-demand, including United Kingdom, Japan and USA.

Last year DAZN broadcast over 27,000 sporting events across 956 million hours of streamed content to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide and it is the first fully integrated global sports entertainment platform.

As part of the deal, DAZN will broadcast BLAST Premier’s remaining five events of the year including the Spring, Fall and World Finals that are all set to be hosted in major arenas in key locations around the world.

DAZN will broadcast next week’s Spring Final (15-19 June), which will be hosted in Lisbon’s Altice Arena – the biggest indoor arena in Portugal and one of the biggest in Europe.

Alexander Lewin, VP of Distribution and Programming at BLAST, said: “We’re thrilled to team up with one of the world’s biggest and most respected sports streaming services in DAZN. Our overarching aim is always to ensure BLAST Premier is available and accessible in as many regions around the world as possible, this partnership is helping us to achieve that goal with BLAST now broadcast in 154 territories and in 25 languages. Our partnership with DAZN in over 100 markets is testament to the current global demand for BLAST Premier and the high production quality.”

Tom Burrows, DAZN EVP Rights, DAZN Group said, “DAZN is committed to making a broad range of sport more accessible to an ever-increasing number of fans and this is a great opportunity to partner with BLAST Premier and broadcast the Counter-Strike tournament series on our platform. There is a fast-growing market for esports and the series is a great fit for DAZN while we continue to expand our offering and become the ultimate sports destination platform for fans.

BLAST Premier is the world’s leading Counter-Strike tournament series, hosting the best players and teams, offering opportunities to regions across the globe and crowning the world champions of CS:GO. Up to 32 of the world’s best teams take part in the seven BLAST Premier events across the year with a combined prize pool of $2,475,000 on the line.

UFC And VeChain Announce Historic Global Marketing Partnership

UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and VeChain, the leading global sustainability-focused blockchain Foundation, today announced a first-of-its-kind long-term partnership that breaks marketing ground for both brands.

VeChain will become UFC’s first-ever Official Layer 1 Blockchain Partner, providing the blockchain Foundation with an unprecedented level of integration into key UFC assets, ranging from live events, including broadcast features and in-arena promotion, to original content distributed through UFC’s popular digital and social channels. Through UFC’s far-reaching global footprint, VeChain will have meaningful brand visibility within an estimated 900 million TV households in 175 countries that receive UFC’s broadcasts.

“It is a historical moment when VeChain, the Layer 1 public Blockchain with the most enterprise adoption, joins forces with the fastest growing sport to raise awareness that blockchain technology is critical in helping deliver major global objectives, such as sustainability,” said Sunny Lu, co-Founder and CEO of VeChain. “This is just the beginning of a multi-year relationship with UFC, and we really look forward to changing the world together.”

“VeChain is a globally recognized leader in blockchain technology, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome them as an Official Marketing Partner of UFC,” said Paul Asencio, UFC Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships. “VeChain’s expertise in using real-world blockchain applications to help the public and private sector achieve their carbon-neutral goals is an effort we are proud to support. We’re looking forward to working with VeChain to leverage UFC’s worldwide popularity to promote a positive message that blockchain technology can be used to protect our environment for future generations.”

VeChain is a pioneer of real-world blockchain applications, with international offices in Luxembourg, Japan, China, Singapore, France, Italy, Ireland, San Marino, and the United States. Strong independent developmental capabilities combined with the professional compliance guidance of strategic partners PwC and DNV has seen VeChain establish partnerships with many leading enterprises, including Walmart, Bayer, BMW Group, BYD Auto, LVMH and more.

The VeChainThor public blockchain is unique in that its technologies have been adopted commercially at enterprise and government levels across various industries. Their technology has the power to radically transform the global economy by greatly enhancing data transparency and security while facilitating unprecedented collaboration using ‘trustless’ data enabled by blockchain. In addition, VeChainThor is mainstreaming applications across industries ranging from sustainability, carbon management, supply chain & logistics, medicine, energy and others.

BRANDED INTEGRATIONS AND ENTITLEMENTS

As UFC’s first-ever Official Layer 1 Blockchain Partner, VeChain will receive one of the deepest integrations within premier UFC assets of any sponsor in UFC history. First, VeChain will own UFC’s official fighter rankings titleship, UFC Rankings Powered by VeChain. This unique and new integration offers VeChain incredible visibility across live broadcasts of UFC’s biggest events– its Pay-Per-Views– as well as UFC digital and social channels. The integration also provides VeChain with a strong association with one of the most important components of UFC matchmaking—the fighter rankings.

VeChain’s prominence at UFC’s live events will be reinforced with two additional high- visibility activations. VeChain will have a branded presence inside UFC’s world-famous Octagon® at all 42 UFC events annually and the 10-event Dana White’s Contender Series. VeChain will also be promoted in-venue at all UFC events, highlighted by frequent, dynamic branding on UFC Fight Deck, the new pioneering LED decking displays that are positioned around the Octagon and enhance the spectacle of UFC events by incorporating thrilling lighting effects, graphics, animation, video, and more.

In addition, UFC and VeChain will collaborate on a variety of custom and original content featuring UFC talent and athletes that will be distributed across UFC’s popular social media channels and digital platforms, reaching nearly 200 million followers worldwide.

Among other branded activations, UFC will also provide VeChain with unique access to UFC’s state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Performance Institute and APEX, to develop once-in-a-lifetime corporate activities and events, and UFC and VeChain will partner to create VIP sweepstakes promotions for fans to attend UFC’s biggest events.

UFC athletes will also benefit, as the agreement provides for an annual Brand Ambassador fund that will offer significant paid marketing opportunities to participating UFC athletes.

VeChain-branded assets will debut this Saturday, June 11, during UFC® 275: TEIXEIRA vs PROCHAZKA at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The event marks the first numbered UFC Pay-Per-View to be held in Southeast Asia and also features the region’s first UFC championship bouts, as UFC world light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira takes on No. 2 Jiri Prochazka, and UFC world women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko faces No. 5 Taila Santos.

Fanatics Collectibles And Topps Announce Comprehensive College Trading Cards Program With More Than 100 New University Partnerships

Fanatics Collectibles, the trading cards and collectibles division of Fanatics, and Topps, its cornerstone sports trading card brand, announced new broad-scale college physical and digital trading cards deals with more than 100 of the top universities nationwide. These agreements will include both exclusive and non-exclusive co-branded trading card products, incorporating official university trademarks and featuring current student-athletes and former athletes playing in the NFL, NBA, and MLB.

Topps has secured multi-year, exclusive rights with more than 35 institutions and a majority of the Power 5 Conference schools – including Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M, and others – to create official trading cards products combining official university trademarks with name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights from both current student-athletes and former players. These agreements will take effect between 2023 and 2025. Additionally, later this year, Topps will kick off a scaled, non-exclusive program to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards showcasing current college football and basketball student-athletes for the above schools and more than 100 additional institutions, including Oklahoma, Duke, North Carolina, Iowa and Syracuse.

“Fanatics has been closely monitoring the ever-evolving NIL landscape, and we felt this was the perfect time to launch multiple, strategic college trading card programs that will allow schools and current student-athletes to create new levels of direct engagement with fans across hundreds of the top programs nationwide,” said Derek Eiler, Executive Vice President, Fanatics College. “There are tremendous opportunities for this untapped area of the hobby and to expand further across the collegiate sports landscape.”

As part of the expanded offering, Topps has separately secured NIL trading cards rights with nearly 200 student athletes across college football and basketball, including 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young (Alabama), CFP National Champion winning QB Stetson Bennett (Georgia), Bo Nix (Oregon), Caleb Williams (USC) and highly touted incoming men’s basketball players Dereck Lively II (Duke) and Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas). Topps has also signed several premier women’s college basketball stars, including the 2022 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Champion and Tournament Most Outstanding Player Aliyah Boston (South Carolina). These trading cards will be released under Topps’ BowmanU brand beginning this fall.

“This collection is the first offering of officially licensed collegiate cards featuring current athlete NIL rights. We’re thrilled at the opportunity to launch these comprehensive programs that combine premier student-athletes and elite institutions to create a best-in-class collegiate trading card product for fans and collectors,” said Dave Leiner, Topps Global Vice President and General Manager.

Fanatics Collectibles was launched in 2021, after securing exclusive, long-term trading cards rights from several leading players associations and professional sports leagues. In January, Fanatics acquired Topps, the iconic trading cards brand that has serviced fans, collectors, and retailers for over 70 years.

“I’m so excited to team up with Fanatics and Topps on this new trading card partnership, which will allow me to create an even deeper level of engagement with fans and collectors everywhere,” said USC Quarterback Caleb Williams.

Leading college licensing agency CLC arranged the trading card licensing elements on behalf of most of the participating universities.

Extended UCI And Warner Bros. Discovery Partnership Signals Exciting New Era For The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has selected Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to deliver a new vision for mountain biking which will see the leading global media and entertainment company combine all its assets and expertise to elevate the sport and reach a new global audience.

To deliver a completely new vision for the future of mountain biking, the UCI will harness WBD’s global scale and vast media platforms, as well as collaborate with two of the company’s specialist organisations. This will see Discovery Sport Events join forces with the Enduro Sports Organisation (ESO Sports) to deliver the organisation, media production and broadcast, promotion and commercialisation of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

Discovery Sports Events, the global promoter and event management leader, will extend its relationship with the UCI to help promote the sport in support of further growing its global audience. ESO Sports, the owner and operator of the Enduro World Series and in whom WBD recently invested, will drive the project to globally unify mountain biking and elevate it to new levels, in collaboration with the UCI.

Building on mountain biking’s popularity, this new approach will also bring innovations to the on-site and on-screen fan experience in order to continue growing the fanbase and improve the global footprint of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

David Lappartient, UCI President, said:

“I am elated by our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, which will take our UCI Mountain Bike World Cup to the next level. Discovery Sports Events has already worked wonders with track cycling – thanks to the innovative UCI Track Champions League – and I know that the exciting discipline of mountain bike will also benefit from their expertise, their in-depth understanding of the expectations of athletes and fans, and the increased exposure that this partnership will bring. Mountain bike will get the impetus it deserves as we work together for the future of this vast and varied discipline.”

Andrew Georgiou, President and Managing Director, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said:

“Extending our relationship with the UCI to support the next phase of development and growth for mountain biking fits Warner Bros. Discovery’s expertise and ambitions perfectly. We will bring the scale of our global broadcast, streaming and online platforms to engage millions of people with the sport, as well as the capabilities of Discovery Sports Events and ESO Sports. Together they have the expertise and tools to develop the sport, alongside the understanding of the intricacies and existing strengths of mountain biking that are essential to best support the mountain bike community and grow the sport.”

Alongside the Olympic Games, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup forms the pinnacle of the sport and sees the world’s best riders compete in multiple cross-country and downhill events throughout the season. Taken together, WBD’s cycling portfolio of content – across Eurosport, GCN+, GCN, EMBN, GMBN, discovery+ and more – already features more than 200 professional events across road, track, BMX, cyclo-cross, mountain bike, as well as all Olympic cycling disciplines.

Discovery Sports Events also partnered with the UCI as the founding global promoter who devised and delivered the game-changing UCI Track Champions League which launched in 2021.

The agreement concludes a period of exclusive negotiations and follows an extensive competitive tender. Further details around the 2023 season and calendar will be announced soon.

Extreme E Returns To Sardinia For Double Summer Showdown; Extends Partnership With MEDSEA Foundation

After the first X Prix of Extreme E Season 2, the Championship now moves from the deserts of NEOM to the historic Capo Teulada area of Sardinia, with just one month to go until the on track action gets underway on the Italian island.

Extreme E returns to Sardinian soil for the Island X Prix, again co-organised by the Automobile Club Italia and, for the first time, there will be a double-header event, with two rounds in one week (6-7 and 9-10 July 2022). The series was created to raise awareness about the effects of climate change and sustainable solutions in the most remote corners of the planet, but Sardinia has shown that the problem does not only concern places located at the most extreme latitudes.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said:

“After an extended break, it is exciting to return to racing once again especially with our first ever double-header event. On track action at our first X Prix of Season 2 in NEOM was spectacular and we hope our two rounds in Sardinia will prove to be just as captivating as the drivers face a totally different kind of challenge.

“We are delighted to be returning to Sardinia, which held our maiden European event last year. It was a dramatic Island X Prix which only added to Sardinia’s rich rallying history and pedigree, while off course the region will highlight some of the issues facing Europe and the wider world. We will be revisiting our legacy programmes focused on restoration of some of the areas hit by wildfires as well as showcasing electric vehicles and clean energy solutions.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Automobile Club d’Italia, the Region of Sardinia, the Ministry of Defence and the Italian Army which has been supporting us every step of the way.”

The event will be returning to the Season 1 location of the Army Training area at Capo Teulada in Sulcis-Iglesiente, an historic area situated in the south-west of the island.

The Teulada route is ideal, providing a challenging backdrop for the course which will measure around seven kilometres. Due to the hot summer conditions in July, the terrain will be much dryer than last year’s Island X Prix with the drivers having to navigate a harder, more compact surface riddled with rocks, bushes, and dry riverbeds cracked from the heat.

Extreme E has been working closely with Automobile Club d’Italia – the national sports federation co-organising and coordinating the event – the Region of Sardinia, and its Tourism Department plus the Ministry of Defense and the Italian Army to deliver what promises to be a week of double the racing and double the excitement.

Automobile Club d’Italia president Angelo Sticchi Damiani said:

“Motor racing and competition are the combination that fuels new solutions for sustainable mobility towards zero emissions. Italy, thanks to Sardinia and the perfect scenery of its uncontaminated territory, is also a world protagonist for this great technological challenge, hosting no less than two stages of Extreme E, the toughest race for so-called zero-emission vehicles.

“ACI expresses satisfaction and pride for the confirmation of Italian motorsport’s ability to constantly face and guide the evolution of competitions and this complex race reserved for off-road vehicles.”

AstroPay Become Wolves’ New Principal Partner

Wolves have entered into a landmark agreement with AstroPay, who become the club’s new principal partner and front of shirt sponsor.

The global payment solutions provider began working with Wolves in August 2021, and following a successful first season of partnership, AstroPay have committed to becoming the club’s principal partner for the 2022/23 campaign.

This exciting new partnership will see AstroPay branding feature on the front of all Wolves shirts next season, including the men’s and women’s first-teams, and under-23s, as well as the full range of replica kits across all ages.

Furthermore, the innovative new deal will also see AstroPay support and feature on the playing shirts of the club’s European esports teams. Esports is a key area of growth for both AstroPay and the club, and this alignment was an important factor for both parties when agreeing this unique deal.

Founded in 2009, AstroPay is a pioneer in global payment solutions. With a strong presence and extensive experience in delivering payment solutions in emerging markets, AstroPay is now available worldwide and serves customers in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The company has offices in the UK and Latin America, and boasts more than six million users, 1000 merchants and in excess of 200 payment methods available globally.

Mikael Lijtenstein, AstroPay CEO, said: “We have built a great relationship with the club over the year and are pleased to be very much part of the Wolves family, one of the most successful clubs in domestic English history with 13 major trophy wins.

“They are a perfect fit for AstroPay and the partnership further solidifies our growth strategy, particularly in terms of increasing our visibility in wider European market. We look forward to continuing to work together, hopefully for many seasons to come.”

On the partnership, Russell Jones, Wolves’ general manager for marketing and commercial growth, said: “We are delighted to announce this new partnership with AstroPay, who are a multi-award winning company, specialising in providing payment solutions in over 150 countries.

“As a forward thinking and fast-growing brand, we know AstroPay have enjoyed the exposure and reach that the Premier League brings. This is their first move into principal front of shirt sponsorship, and it gives me immense pride that they have chosen Wolves.

“Their progressive attitude and ambitious growth plans have seen them win significant market share in both Asia and Latin America – two areas where Wolves has developed a strong following but also harbours extensive growth ambitions for 2022/23.

“We have already started working with our colleagues at AstroPay to align our marketing plans. The first step will be unveiling the AstroPay logo on our men’s and women’s first-team shirts for season 2022/23. We can also confirm that AstroPay will adorn the full range of replica shirts (adults and juniors), when available in-store and online.”