United push the envelope with £40m kit deal

Manchester United have broken new ground by signing a £40million deal with DHL to sponsor their training kit.

United’s players and coaching staff sport the delivery firm’s logo on the training ground for the next four years.

DHL-sponsored gear will also be worn by United’s players during warm-ups before domestic games, with the exception of home matches in the Champions League.

The new agreement does not affect United’s existing sponsorship deal with American insurance giant AON, whose logo will remain for all domestic and European games.

United chief ­executive David Gill said: “We are delighted that DHL has chosen to pioneer training kit sponsorship with the club.”

United have also announced a three-year partnership with ­Vietnamese mobile phone company, Beeline, to distribute United content to fans in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

It is estimated United have 16 million fans in Vietnam alone.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: “Everyone knows the passion of our fans in that part of the world.”

By David McDonnell