FC Schalke 04 Inks Largest Jersey Deal In German Bundesliga

German Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 has signed a jersey sponsorship deal with Russia-based Gazprom, the world’s largest natural gas company, that will provide the team with “as much as [US$125M] over the course of five-and-a-half years,” according to DEUTSCHE WELLE. The deal is the “largest sponsoring agreement ever” in the Bundesliga, surpassing the US$25M annual deal that Bayern Munich has with Deutsche Telekom. Gazprom takes over the jersey designation from Victoria Insurance beginning in January and running until June 30, 2012. Victoria, “which has supported Schalke with [US$9.4M] per year, will remain a sponsor until 2012.” Experts said that the deal will give Schalke US$75-83M “by the time it expires.” If the club “wins titles or regularly plays in the Champions League,” the deal could be worth up to US$125M (DEUTSCHE WELLE, 10/10).