Newcastle face scrutiny after signing £25m-a-year Saudi sponsorship deal

Newcastle have finalised a £25m-a-year front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with the leading Saudi Arabian events company Sela. The agreement will provide an early test of the Premier League’s new fair market value commercial regulations.

The multiyear contract is a sharp increase on the club’s £6.5m-a-season shirt sponsorship with the Chinese online gambling company Fun88, reflecting the team’s ascent to the top four and, with it, qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Money talks: how Saudi Arabia’s soft power project is shaking up sport | Sean IngleRead more

Given that Sela is majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which holds an 80% stake in Newcastle, the tie-up will automat…