Confirmed: Controversial Betting Company BK8 Joins Aston Villa as Main Sponsor
Jun 22, 2023, by Chris
Update: Aston Villa have agreed a multi-year partnership with BK8, which sees the brand join as the new Principal and Front of Shirt Partner.
This comes as a shock for two reasons. Firstly, the Premier League banned all front-shirt betting sponsors from 2026, in the hope to decrease gambling problems and addiction related to football.
Secondly, this company in specific, BK8, in June 2021, signed a shirt sponsorship deal with Norwich City. However, Norwich had to drop the £5 million one-year deal just five days after announcing it - BK8 promoted their company with sexualized and suggestive content.
The organization, which has signed a three-year deal with the club, will have branding featured on the front of Villa’s three shirts until the end of the 2025/26 season and has committed to giving back to charity with this latest announcement, in a move to change its perception to the overall football market.
An Aston Villa spokesperson said: “Through this partnership with BK8 we look forward to exciting collaborations together that will help to grow both brands, particularly within Southeast Asia.”
Original Article (January 2023): English Premier League club Aston Villa have reportedly agreed on a main sponsorship deal with controversial betting company BK8, replacing Cazoo.
After three years, Aston Villa's main sponsorship deal with Cazoo is coming to an end in 2023 and won't be extended. This was announced by Cazoo earlier this week.
“It has been a very strong and successful partnership for both parties and we are proud to have supported the club and raised over £120,000 for the Aston Villa Foundation during this time,” said a Cazoo spokesperson.
Aston Villa to Sign 3-Year Main Sponsorship Deal With BK8
Aston Villa have agreed on a three-year main sponsorship deal with BK8, according to The Telegraph. Quickly after it became known that BK8 would become the team's new main sponsor, the backlash began, and rightfully so.
In June 2021, Norwich City signed a shirt sponsorship deal with BK8. However, Norwich had to drop the £5 million one-year deal just five days after announcing it - BK8 promoted their company with ‘sexy baccarat’ and suggestive images of hot dog swallowing contests.
Norwich canceled the deal after just 5 days last summer
Aston Villa did not comment on the rumors and their probable main sponsor deal with BK8.
BK8 also signed less important deals with English clubs Crystal Palace, Burnley, and Huddersfield in 2022.
Are you surprised that Aston Villa could sign with BK8 after the controversy with Norwich last year? Comment below.
Austria Wien 26-27 Third Kit Released - Inspired by Gustav Klimt
Macron and Austrian Bundesliga club FK Austria Wien have officially launched their new third kit for the 2026-27 season. Dubbed the "Kunsttrikot" (art jersey), the special release draws direct inspiration from Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt and his world-renowned masterpiece, "Der Kuss" (The Kiss), completing the club's set for the campaign.
The Austria Wien 26-27 third shirt comes in a rich cardinal red base decorated with gold details throughout. Across the body and sleeves, an intricate embossed texture incorporates the contrasting rectangular and circular patterns famously featured in Klimt's work. The design is rounded off with a traditional buttoned polo collar edged in gold trim, matching sleeve cuffs, and monochrome gold silicone applications for the club crest and Macron Hero logo. Special touches include "Spielkultur" on the outer neck and an inner neck tape honoring legendary captains Sara, Prohaska, Hussack, Nausch, and Fiala.
Matching cardinal red shorts and socks complete the kit, which is crafted from 100% recycled Eco Softlock polyester. Austria Wien are initially making the 26-27 third shirt available in a run of 1,000 limited-edition collector gallery boxes before a general release.
London City Lionesses Announce Landmark Nike Front-of-Shirt Sponsorship Deal
London City Lionesses have officially announced a multi-year front-of-shirt partnership with Nike. Owned by Michele Kang via Kynisca Sports International, the Barclays Women's Super League side revealed a unique graphic for the primary sponsor position, featuring the ancient Goddess of Victory statue from which the sportswear giant takes its name.
The new front-of-shirt look makes its on-pitch debut when London City take on Manchester United on September 4, 2026. Beyond the prominent kit branding, the agreement incorporates grassroots community activations as well as dedicated support for female-focused sports science research and athlete development.
Alongside the front-of-shirt sponsorship, the club and Nike have agreed to a four-year extension of their technical kit supply partnership, locking in the Swoosh from the 27-28 season onwards. This expands on their existing apparel arrangement first established ahead of the 25-26 campaign.
Levante 26-27 Fourth Kit Released
Spanish club Levante UD and Italian technical sponsor Macron have officially unveiled their new fourth kit for the 2026-27 season. Marking the tenth year of collaboration between the club and the brand, the new uniform completes Levante's kit lineup for the current campaign.
The Macron Levante 26-27 fourth jersey features a navy blue base with an all-over sublimated and embossed geometric pattern inspired by the traditional azulejos ceramic tiles of Valencia's seaside El Cabanyal neighborhood. Off-white and cardinal red trim accents the V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs, while silicone patches of the club crest and the Macron Hero emblem sit on the chest. The design also pays tribute to club founder José Ballester Gozalvo and his wife Teresa Molins Gausach.
Navy blue shorts with matching off-white and cardinal red details alongside hooped socks complete the full look. Levante UD will debut the new 26-27 fourth kit on September 6, 2026, against Málaga CF at the Ciutat de València to coincide with the club's 117th anniversary.
No More Macron: Elite Eleven Melbourne Victory 26-27 Training Collection Released
A-League side Melbourne Victory has officially announced a new multi-year partnership with Australian activewear brand Elite Eleven. The Melbourne-based brand will serve as the club's official Technical Kit and Apparel Partner for the next four seasons, starting from the 26-27 campaign, marking the end of Victory's partnership with Italian supplier Macron.
Shortly after the announcement, the club launched its official 26-27 training and lifestyle collection under the campaign banner "Melbourne Born. Melbourne Worn."
The training range is available to purchase immediately, while Melbourne Victory's new 26-27 home and away match kits are scheduled to be officially unveiled in early October.