January 14 – Brazilian giants Botafogo have announced a landmark partnership with online sports betting brand VBET as their new main shirt sponsor in a three-year agreement.
The deal, covering both the men’s and women’s teams, is the most lucrative commercial contract in the club’s 130-year history.
Brazilian media reports suggest the partnership is worth up to BRL 55 million ($8.87 million) annually, making it the fifth most valuable main sponsorship deal in Brazil’s Serie A, trailing only Flamengo, Corinthians, Palmeiras, and Vasco da Gama.
Botafogo’s recent success has made them an attractive choice for brands. The club secured the Copa Libertadores title late last year and followed it up by winning the 2024 Brazilian Serie A domestic championship.
“The partnership with Vbet is an important moment for Botafogo and our fans,” said Thairo Arruda, CEO of Botafogo.
“The champion of Brazil and America is joining forces with a global company that believes in the work of the Club and its legacy. Vbet joins forces and brings the necessary momentum for Botafogo to continue its journey to the top of Brazilian and world football.”
Ruben Tovmasyan, CEO of Vbet Brazil, added: “This partnership is an important milestone for Vbet, demonstrating our dedication to growth and our ambitious plans in Brazil.
“The ‘V’ in Vbet stands for ‘victory’, and we are proud to partner with a club that has achieved so much success in its history.
“With our commitment to regulatory compliance in Brazil, we aim to provide an exceptional experience for football fans, with a focus on security, reliability and innovation.”
Botafogo has been majority-owned since early 2022 by Eagle Football, the holding company of US businessman John Textor, who entered exclusivity with a US-Saudi consortium to sell his 45% stake in Crystal Palace for $185 million earlier this week.
More good news for Textor came as Sportsbank, led by Crystal Palace supporter Zechariah Janjua, pledged to invest €240 million in Eagle Football, which also owns Olympique Lyon. This could fast-track Eagle’s $1.1 billion IPO ambitions, planned for 2025.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1736870753labto1736870753ofdlr1736870753owedi1736870753sni@g1736870753niwe.1736870753yrrah1736870753
