Chelsea Football Club has announced a landmark partnership with Circle Internet Group, Inc.
The New York-listed parent company of cryptocurrency stablecoin USDC will be the club’s front-of-shirt partner, beginning with the 2026/27 season.
Stablecoins are moving from early adoption toward the mainstream, which Circle says “creates an unprecedented opportunity to make money as open, accessible, and useful as the internet itself”.
These virtual coins are pegged to the value of a fiat currency – in USDC’s case, this is the American dollar.
By reducing the cost and friction of moving value, Circle says, they can broaden participation in the global economy and unlock greater opportunity for people everywhere.
Bringing USDC to one of sport’s biggest global stages reflects the scale and ambition of this opportunity, it adds.
In the 2026/27 season, Circle and USDC brands will appear on the front of Chelsea’s Men’s, Women’s and Academy shirts, featuring for the first time at Chelsea FC men’s first Premier League home game of the season this Sunday against Brighton.
“We built USDC on the belief that money should work seamlessly for everyone everywhere, the way the internet does,” said Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and CEO of Circle. “Partnering with Chelsea connects us with a global sports community built on that exact same borderless vision.”
Jason Gannon, president of Chelsea FC, said: “This partnership with Circle positions Chelsea at the forefront of football’s digital evolution.
“We are two organisations fixated by the future and are relentlessly innovating to be in the best position possible for the long-term. We look forward to beginning our journey with Circle – to introduce Circle to the Chelsea family and continue enhancing how we operate.”