According to the latest reports, Barcelona is set to chip away at its $1.5 billion debt with a couple new shirt sponsorship deals following the expiration of its current contracts with Rakuten (front of the shirt) and Beko (sleeve). Spotify will become the new main sponsor on a five-year deal worth $384 million ($77 million per year) and Polkadot (a cryptocurrency) goes on the sleeve in another five-tear deal worth $113 million ($23 million per year).
That combined total of $100 million per year makes Barça's kit the most lucrative in the world — overtaking hated rival Real Madrid and Manchester United. Real doesn't have a sleeve sponsor, but Emirates pays around $81 million each year to grace the front of the shirt.
Manchester United makes $64 million each season from main sponsor TeamViewer while Kohler adds an extra $27 million for its presence on the sleeve.
Most Expensive Kit Sponsorship Deals In Football 2022
#1. Barcelona | Spotify and Polkadot | $100 million
#2. Manchester United | TeamViewer and Kohler | $91 million
#3. Real Madrid | Emirates | $81 million
#4. Chelsea | Three and Yokohama | $71 million
#5. Arsenal | Emirates and Visit Rwanda | $70 million
#6. Liverpool | Standard Chartered and Expedia | $67 million
#7. Bayern Munich | Deutsche Telekom and Qatar Airways | $65 million
#8. Tottenham | AIA and cinch | $60 million
*We're not including Manchester City in this list because Abu Dhabi injects whatever the hell it wants into the club, so its deal with Etihad is absurd.
Barça's back, baby — even Leo Messi has returned! (To eat dinner with Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.)
Leo Messi abandona el restaurante en el que estaba cenando con Xavi Hernández y con Sergio Busquets. #FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/IJXiWmIxWQ
— Miquel Blázquez (@BlazquezFont) January 24, 2022
It's time to celebrate, and every great party needs a Spotify playlist to soundtrack it. Here's my 10-song Barcelona playlist to get you in the mood.
FC Barcelona Playlist
#1. "Cant del Barça"
The official anthem of Barcelona.
#2. "Barcelona" by George Ezra
The unofficial anthem of Barcelona.
#3. "Popcorn" by Hot Butter
When I close my eyes and try to imagine the audio equivalent of tiki-taka, this is what plays in my head.
#4. "I Need A Dollar" by Aloe Blacc
The Camp Nou should consider making this song the club's version of "You'll Never Walk Alone."
#5. "Lionel Messi" by VanMili
It's not that surprising, but searching "Lionel Messi" on Spotify returns a lot of different songs — ranging from techno to cumbia to pop — but after listening to way too many of them, this was the real standout for me.
#6. "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
When Barcelona last lifted the Champions League trophy back on June 6, 2015, "See You Again" was top of the charts and beautifully foreshadowing all the painful years to come.
"It's been a long day without you, my friend | And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again."
#7. "Ya No Más" by DJ Fer Palacio
This is the Argentine DJ that everyone thought gave Messi Covid-19. He makes the playlist for sure.
#8. "Chained" — John Talabot remix
John Talabot is actually just a great DJ and producer from Barcelona. This is a heartfelt one.
#9. "No Love" by Memphis Depay
This single from Memphis Depay was released in 2018 as a response to the criticism he knew he'd receive for failing to score or assist in six UCL group stage starts this season.
#10. "Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen
Not sure ‘Another one bites the dust’ is much of a presentation song after four coaches in less than two years pic.twitter.com/PIaA4DmHFW
— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) November 8, 2021
