Chelsea Football Club has entered a multi year global partnership with IFS, a company known for Industrial AI software. IFS will become Principal Partner with immediate effect and its branding will appear on the front of Chelsea’s shirt for the rest of the 25/26 season. The agreement begins a long term relationship built around artificial intelligence in elite sport.
In a statement announcing the deal, IFS said it is “the world’s leading provider of Industrial AI software” and that it enables organisations to deliver tangible results with AI by solving complex, real-world operational problems. The company will bring its software and AI agents into Chelsea’s day to day operations.
IFS said the partnership places advanced AI into football performance, operational excellence and fan engagement. The company added that its technology will drive precision across the club’s operations and improve performance in almost every aspect of the club’s work.
How Will AI Be Used Within The Club?
According to IFS, the agreement puts Chelsea at the forefront of football’s technological evolution. The company said the club will use IFS AI to connect people, assets and intelligence in real time. That will sharpen its competitive edge on the pitch and lift the experience for millions of fans around the world.
IFS described the collaboration as one that brings “advanced Industrial AI into the heart of the club’s operations to support smarter decisions on and off the pitch.” The language shows that AI will be embedded across football, business and fan operations rather than kept in one department.
The company also said, “When the moment matters, speed and clarity change everything. In sport as in industry, the right decision at the right moment defines success. That’s why IFS Industrial AI orchestrates complexity with precision, empowering Chelsea FC to deliver at their Moment of Service.” The message is direct. Better data and faster decisions can influence matches, recruitment, logistics and supporter engagement.
For Chelsea, the agreement shows an intent to lead from the front in how elite clubs are built and run. IFS said that embedding advanced AI into the club’s foundations reinforces its long term ambition to set the benchmark for performance and innovation in global sport.
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What Are The Leaders Saying?
Jason Gannon, President of Chelsea Football Club, welcomed the partnership and made it plain that this is about more than shirt branding. He said, “We are incredibly proud to partner with IFS and leverage their leading edge AI software to help propel the club to even greater success. This partnership is a statement of intent to keep leading in this field, harnessing the opportunities advanced technology brings and unlocking the power of AI to improve everything we do on and off the pitch.”
His comments tie sporting ambition to digital systems. He framed AI as a tool that can influence everything the club does, from training ground routines to commercial work.
Mark Moffat, Chief Executive Officer of IFS, compared elite sport to heavy industry. He said, “In sport as in industry, the margins are small, the stakes are high, and the right decision at the right moment is everything. That’s what IFS Industrial AI delivers for the industries that power the global economy. Chelsea FC holds itself to that same uncompromising standard, and that shared ambition is exactly why we’re proud to be their Principal Partner.”
His comments place Chelsea in the same conversation as the large global businesses that already use IFS software. The tone presents football as another high stakes environment where data and timing decide outcomes.
Why Are AI Companies Entering Mainstream Sponsorship?
The Chelsea deal shows how AI companies are entering mainstream sponsorship and global sport. Shirt partnerships have long been the territory of airlines, banks and betting companies. An Industrial AI provider taking that space shows how central AI has become to modern business.
IFS describes itself as the leading provider of Industrial AI software and uses the Chelsea partnership to place its brand in front of a global football audience. Football clubs attract millions of viewers every week, which gives technology companies direct access to fans, investors and corporate clients.
The language used in the announcement also shows how AI companies want to be seen. IFS speaks about “operational excellence”, “real-world operational problems” and delivering results. Attaching that message to a club competing at the top level of English football places AI in everyday conversation.
On Chelsea’s part, the agreement serves to grow its sporting identity while creating digital transformation. For IFS, it brings industrial software into one of the most watched leagues in the world. The partnership shows how AI has moved from back office systems into stadiums, shirts and the public eye.
