In a statement released on Friday, Circle announced that its name and the USDC will appear on Chelsea players’ jerseys during the 2026–2027 season. The partnership agreement between the soccer club and the digital asset company was signed approximately three months after the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced that it had sent warning letters to Premier League clubs, which may have included Chelsea.
The letters referred to “unauthorized” companies, including crypto businesses, that were using sponsorship agreements to attract soccer fans, which could potentially violate UK financial services laws. Circle UK Trading Limited, the company’s UK subsidiary, has been authorized by the FCA since 2018 to provide certain financial services to UK residents.
Stablecoins, such as USDC, are also permitted for use in the country, although lawmakers are working to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. The financial regulator will begin applying new standards to companies dealing in digital assets, including stablecoin issuers, starting in October 2027.
Notably, while Circle stated that USDC is “issued by certain regulated affiliates,” the stablecoin itself “is not issued or regulated under UK law.” Cointelegraph reached out to the FCA for comment, but the agency declined to provide one. Circle did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The debut of the USDC-branded kit will take place on August 30 in a match against Brighton. The parties did not disclose the details of the deal. Media reports previously indicated that the club expects to earn 65 million pounds per year.
What is USDC
USDC is a centralized cryptocurrency whose value is pegged to the U.S. dollar. USDC is managed by a consortium founded by Circle. The consortium includes members such as the cryptocurrency service Coinbase and the mining company Bitmain, both of which are investors in Circle. USDC is a form of private money; it is not a central bank digital currency.
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