The company of Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov has agreed a deal to sponsor the training ground of Premier League rivals Everton.
Everton’s complex will be renamed USM Finch Farm as part of a five-year deal that will allow USM Holdings, in which Usmanov is the largest shareholder, gain access to “global marketing rights” including advertising at Goodison Park and player access for the brands USM have stakes in, which include Spotify, Uber and MegaFon, one of Russia’s largest telecommunications operators.
Ivan Streshinsky, member of the Board of Directors of USM Holdings said: “The naming of Finch Farm, and the extensive package of marketing rights, provides USM and the businesses within our group with unique year-round global media exposure.
“We’ve done considerable research into what this partnership can deliver for us and we’re very excited about the difference this will make as we continue to build our brands.”
This new deal reunited billionaire Usmanov, Russia’s seventh richest man, with Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, who had been partners in Red & White Holdings Ltd, which holds around a 30 per cent stake in Arsenal.
Premier League rules forced Moshiri to sell his stake to Usmanov when he moved to take over Everton but this deal reunites the pair.
Usmanov has been public about his desire to take over Arsenal, though in August he was forced to deny rumours he was considering selling his stake, but has no position on the board and has not enjoyed good relations with majority shareholder Stan Kroenke in the past.
