Arsenal Ends Visit Rwanda Sleeve Deal After 8 Years

Arsenal Football Club has announced the end of its eight-year sleeve sponsorship partnership with Visit Rwanda at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, marking the close of a deal that drew significant criticism from fans and international observers.

The agreement, which began in 2018 and was renewed in 2021, featured the Visit Rwanda logo on the sleeves of Arsenal's men's and women's team kits. Valued at approximately 10 million pounds annually according to the club's 2023-24 accounts, it represented Arsenal's first foray into sleeve sponsorship and aimed to promote Rwanda's tourism and conservation initiatives. Both parties described the decision to terminate as mutual, with Arsenal stating it aligns with Visit Rwanda's strategy to diversify its global sports partnerships and explore new markets.

The partnership faced growing scrutiny amid geopolitical tensions in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the DRC government and United Nations experts have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, which seized control of the city of Goma in early 2025. Rwanda has denied these allegations. In February 2025, the DRC urged Arsenal to drop the deal during a visit by its...