Barcelona End 113 Years without Commercial Sponsor through Qatar Airways Deal

Barcelona Football Club will wear the Qatar Airways logo on their shirts from next season, replacing charity Qatar Foundation and representing the club’s first commercial sponsor in 113 years.

The deal is reportedly worth $45m a season and will begin on July 1, 2013.

Club President, Sandro Rosell said: “We are delighted to be working with Qatar Airways.

“We share lots of values, and one of them is the search for excellence. We have lots of supporters and Qatar have lots of customers.

“This deal is good for our club, good for our city and good for our country.”

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker commented: “This strategic partnership with FC Barcelona promises to elevate our brands to a new platform on the global stage.

“Likewise, FC Barcelona is a global connector, bridging its fan base from around the globe with the world’s best supported club.”

The news comes as official confirmation of the deal, with reports emerging in 2012 that the airline would be the new shirt sponsor for the 2013/14 campaign.