Premier League to end 15 year association with sponsors Barclays

With their £5.1bn domestic broadcasting deal, the league can afford to give up the £40m they would earn annually from a title sponsor

Barclays has sponsored the Premier League for 15 years (Getty)

The Premier League will ditch its title sponsor after next season, giving it a “clean brand” that the clubs believe will play better internationally as they compete with America’s NFL and NBA for the broadcast millions of emergent markets.

The decision was made at the end of season Premier League shareholders’ meeting, bringing the curtain down a 15 year association with Barclays whose current deal has one more season to run. The brutal truth is that with their £5.136bn domestic broadcasting deal, the league could afford to give up the £40m they would earn annually from a title sponsor.

In a statement the Premier League said it would explore the possibility of lower profile commercial deals.