West Ham United Signs £20M Shirt Sponsorship Deal With Online Betting Site Betway

West Ham United has found a new backer in online sportsbook Betway, which has agreed to a 20 million pounds deal to become the shirt sponsor of the club.

“We are pleased to welcome Betway to the club as our new principal sponsor, in what is our biggest-ever commercial deal. Like us, Betway are an ambitious, forward-thinking company and the size of the agreement reflects our status as one of the fastest growing brands in world football,” Karren Brady, vice-chairman of West Ham United F.C. said to The Guardian. “Betway join us at one of the most exciting periods in our history and we will be working closely with them as we prepare to bid an emotional farewell to our home of more than 110 years before moving into our stunning new stadium in 2016.”

Off the field, West Ham has gained their biggest commercial sponsorship but on the field the season has been a struggle. The club ranks eighth in the latest English Premier League standings with 39 points, 11 wins, 6 draws and 7 losses. West Ham is just won once in the last five matches with 2 losses and 2 draws in that stretch. After meeting Manchester United on Sunday, they will be facing Southampton in an away match on Feb. 11 and then the fifth-ranked Spurs in another match away from home on Feb. 22. West Ham finishes the month against 13th-ranked Crystal Palace on Feb. 28.

The deal means that the Betaway logo will be prominently featured on all of the Clubs’ shirts and training wear. “West Ham United are a club with a rich history and passionate supporters and we’re thrilled to have secured this sponsorship at a time when the team are performing so well,” Betway's Executive Director Bob Dutnall said in their website. “The Barclays Premier League is the world’s most popular football competition and the sport is synonymous with excitement and betting, making it a perfect fit for our growing brand.”

The West Ham United F.C. - Betway partnership is not the first time that an English soccer club has a shirt sponsorship deal with a sportsbook. Some current and former deals include Aston Villa and Dafabet for $16.5 million, Burnley and Fun 88 for $3.3 million, Hull City and 12 Bet for $2.6 million and Stoke City and Bet 365 for $5 million.

Email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au to contact author of this article.