Circle to sponsor Chelsea FC jerseys with USDC branding

Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has announced a partnership to become the principal sponsor for Chelsea FC. Starting with the 2026/27 season, the Circle brand and USDC logo will appear on the front of the club’s men’s, women’s, and academy team jerseys.

The deal comes following warnings from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to Premier League clubs regarding sponsorship agreements with unauthorized financial firms, including crypto-asset businesses. The FCA noted that such partnerships could pose legal and money laundering risks.

While Circle’s UK entity, Circle UK Trading Limited, has been an authorized electronic money institution since 2018, the company clarified that USDC itself is not issued or managed under UK law. The partnership aims to expand Circle’s brand visibility beyond the traditional crypto audience to a global football fanbase estimated at over 500 million people.