EA to Sign $588 Million-Licensing Deal With Premier League as Former FIFA Franchise Looks to Reinvent: Report
EA Sports' FIFA series of football video games remains one of gaming's most lucrative franchises. The company's licensing deals, that have allowed the games to use official club and player names, have fueled the FIFA series to become one of the best-selling sports video game franchises in the world. And while the franchise is set to lose the popular FIFA moniker for the first time after failing to come to an agreement for licensed use of the name with world football's governing body, it is reportedly closing in on a mammoth deal to retain the rights to the Premier League, England's top tier football league. According to a report, EA Sports has agreed to pay GBP 488 million ($588 million or roughly Rs. 4,861 crore) for the licensing rights of all 20 Premier League clubs.
A report by Sky Sports on Friday suggests that all 20 Premier League clubs were informed at a meeting about a new six-year deal with EA Sports worth about GBP 488 million. The deal, according to the report, is close to being finalised.
The report cited one club executive as saying that the new deal would generate over GBP 80 million (roughly Rs. 796 crore) for the league annually. The agreement would see EA Sports remain as the Premier League's key partner and retain exclusive licensing rights for the popular league and its clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea, among others, which have a global fanbase. The new deal is reportedly worth more than double the existing agreement between Premier League and EA.
The Premier League remains football's most popular and most watched club competition in the world by far, with its financial might attracting the best players, managers, and commercial partners. Much of its financial muscle comes
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