Circle has struck a partnership with Chelsea Football Club, putting its USDC stablecoin at the heart of one of football’s most recognisable global brands.
The partnership will see Circle become a Principal Partner and Chelsea’s official front-of-shirt partner from the 2026/27 season, with Circle and USDC branding appearing across the club’s men’s, women’s and academy shirts.
The agreement represents a significant mainstream marketing move for Circle as the company seeks to broaden awareness and adoption of stablecoins beyond the digital asset sector.
Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and CEO of Circle, said the company built USDC around the belief that “money should work seamlessly for everyone everywhere, the way the internet does”.
He added that partnering with Chelsea connects Circle with a global sports community that shares its “borderless vision”.
Circle chief commercial officer Kash Razzaghi said the partnership reflects the company’s view of where the global economy is heading, highlighting the similarities between Chelsea’s international reach and USDC’s ability to move across borders.
The Circle and USDC branding will make its debut on Chelsea’s men’s shirt at the club’s first Premier League home game of the 2026/27 season against Brighton on Sunday.
Chelsea president Jason Gannon said the partnership positions the club “at the forefront of football’s digital evolution”, while Circle’s Razzaghi described the shirt partnership as a reflection of what the future of global finance could look like: open, borderless and accessible.