Rakuten, a Japanese electronic commerce and online retailing company, has been the main sponsor of Barcelona since 2017. The deal, signed for four years, is worth a whopping €55 million per year.
This means that Rakuten pays Barcelona a total of €220 million for the four-year sponsorship agreement. This makes it one of the highest sponsorships in football history.
But what exactly do Rakuten get out of this deal? Apart from being featured on the front of Barcelona’s jerseys, they also have exclusive rights to sell official Barcelona merchandise in Japan and other parts of Asia. This includes everything from shirts to mugs to phone cases.
In addition, Rakuten also has its name displayed prominently in and around Camp Nou, Barcelona’s home stadium. This includes advertising boards and banners during match days.
However, the partnership between Rakuten and Barcelona goes beyond just financial gain. It is also about shared values such as innovation and teamwork.
Rakuten founder and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said in a statement when the deal was announced: “This partnership will power our global brand recognition and help us get closer to our goal of becoming the world’s leading internet services company.”
Barcelona Vice President Manel Arroyo also expressed his excitement about the partnership: “We are delighted with this agreement because it will help us to reach new fans in Asia while allowing us to continue working with an innovative company that shares Barça’s values.”
In conclusion, Rakuten pays Barcelona a staggering €55 million per year for their sponsorship deal which lasts for four years. In exchange, they receive exclusive rights to sell official merchandise in Japan and other parts of Asia as well as prominent advertising space at Camp Nou. The partnership is not only about financial gain but also shared values between two innovative companies.