Chelsea declined a significant front-of-shirt sponsorship proposal from a gambling company in August, according to Football Insider.
The club began the new season without a primary shirt sponsor for the second consecutive year after their previous deal with Infinite Athlete expired.
The London club had initially signed a £40 million-a-year agreement with the US-based sports data company in September last year, but this arrangement did not carry over into the current campaign.
Chelsea had aimed to secure a £50 million deal for this season.
However, they were compelled to lower their asking price to £40 million, and that figure could continue to drop the longer they remain without a sponsorship agreement.
Football Insider further claimed that Chelsea are not pursuing partnerships with companies in the gambling sector, despite receiving a substantial shirt sponsorship offer during the summer.
The club’s management at Stamford Bridge withdrew from negotiations with online betting company Stake in July 2023 following a backlash from fans, before subsequently signing the deal with Infinite Athlete.
It is worth noting that Premier League clubs will no longer be able to agree to front-of-shirt sponsorships with gambling firms starting in the 2026-27 season, as part of a collective decision made last year.
Chelsea’s ability to secure a lucrative sponsorship deal has been hindered by their absence from the Champions League this season.
Football Insider previously revealed that missing out on European competition and failing to finalise a shirt deal could cost the club over £100 million.
Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol earlier reported that Chelsea are in discussions with Qatar Airways and two other airlines regarding potential front-of-shirt sponsorship agreements.
However, finance expert Stefan Borson told Football Insider that the club is not currently close to finalizing any deals with interested parties.
Securing a new front-of-shirt sponsor is crucial for Chelsea’s profit and sustainability (PSR) calculations this season, as such deals typically account for nearly 10 percent of their revenue throughout the campaign.
The Premier League side reported record revenues of £512.5 million in their latest accounts for the 2022-23 season, but this figure may decrease this season due to the lack of European football.
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