Premier League side Everton confirmed that its long-standing shirt sponsorship deal with Thai beverage company Chang "will end this summer," but the club will maintain its links with the company through a "three-year community partnership agreement," according to Chris Beesley of the LIVERPOOL ECHO. Chang is the club's longest-running shirt sponsor, having had its logo "emblazoned across the Blues playing kit" since '04. New deals were struck with Everton in '05, '08, '10 and '14 but from next season the Blues "will have a new company’s name adorning their jerseys, SportPesa." The Kenyan-based betting firm currently sponsors Hull City and bills itself as "Africa's leading Gaming Platform." It will also move its European HQ to the Royal Liver Building on the city’s waterfront, which was "recently purchased by Everton’s majority shareholder," Farhad Moshiri. Regarding the new arrangement with Chang, an Everton statement said, "The community partnership will commence from 1 June 2017 and will follow on from the conclusion of the existing Main Partner agreement. ... Activities will include football coaching trips to and from Thailand and further development of the Chang Junior Cup; a national junior competition to assist grassroots development for Thai players and coaches" (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 5/10).
