Chelsea chief revenue officer departs amid ongoing search for shirt sponsor

Chelsea's chief revenue officer, Casper Stylsvig, has left the club less than two years after his appointment, with the Premier League side still without a main shirt sponsor for the coming season, media reports said.

Stylsvig was hired in November 2023 after spells at AC Milan, Fulham and Manchester United, and was praised at the time by then-chief executive Chris Jurasek for his commercial and football experience. Chelsea have been pursuing a new front-of-shirt partner but, according to reports, offers so far have not produced a long-term agreement.

Chelsea are believed to be the only top-flight club currently without a principal shirt sponsor, a revenue stream many clubs rely on to meet Premier League Profit and Sustainability rules. Reports said the club had been seeking a deal in the region of £60 million to £65 million per season, and that new Saudi airline Riyadh Air had been strongly linked to negotiations. The club has not confirmed those figures.

Last season Chelsea began without a sponsor until a short-term arrangement was reached with Dubai-based property firm Damac. They also started the 2023-24 campaign without a partner before agreeing a reported £40 million-per-year deal with US technology firm Infinite Athlete.

Stylsvig joined Chelsea having held the same role at AC Milan and after three years at Fulham. He previously spent eight years as Manchester United's global sponsorship director and began his career with Barcelona, according to club announcements issued at the time of his appointment.

Profit from commercial deals, including shirt sponsorship, contributes to clubs' overall financial assessments under the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability regime, placing added focus on securing high-value partnerships. Chelsea's reported valuation for a front-of-shirt deal would place them among the highest paid in recent Premier League commerce.

The club has been contacted for comment, and Stylsvig's departure was reported by media outlets. There was no immediate statement from Chelsea or Stylsvig detailing the circumstances of his exit or whether an interim commercial structure will be put in place while the club continues its search for a long-term sponsor.

The development leaves Chelsea's commercial team facing continued pressure to close a lucrative sponsorship amid competition from other clubs and a global market in which sponsorship values have become a central part of top clubs' revenue strategies. How quickly Chelsea fills the vacancy and secures a permanent front-of-shirt partner may have implications for their short-term financial planning and compliance reporting to football authorities.