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Football isn't perhaps not the first thing you think of when you think of Huawei, but for fans of English Premier League side, Arsenal, that may soon become the case. The English giants and the Chinese vendor have come together in a partnership that sees Huawei become the official smartphone partner of the club. 

Beyond smartphones, for Arsenal the deal is a strategic move to extend its following in Asia. Huawei will be using Arsenal players in official marketing both in the UK and elsewhere around the world. The deal lasts until the end of the 2015/16 Premier League season, and will be officially introduced to Gunners fans before this weekends game at the Emirates Stadium against Fulham. 

The full press release can be found after the break.

Huawei and Arsenal announce global partnership

Premier League club chooses Huawei as Official Smartphone Partner

London – 17 January 2014: Huawei, the leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, and Arsenal Football Club today announced a new partnership, which will see the telecommunications specialist become the Official Smartphone Partner of the north London club on a global basis.

Huawei and Arsenal announced the global deal, which lasts until the end of season 2015/16 at the Arsenal Training Centre in Colney, Hertfordshire, with members of the first team including, Aaron Ramsey, Lukas Podolski and Mesut Özil along with manager Arsène Wenger. The partnership will be officially unveiled to supporters at Emirates Stadium before the Premier League clash with Fulham on Saturday 18th January 2014.

The deal brings together two high performing organisations with a global presence; Huawei, a global technology and communications market leader, and Arsenal FC, one of the world’s biggest football clubs.

Tom Fox, Chief Commercial Officer at Arsenal Football Club, said: "We are delighted to welcome Huawei to Arsenal as an official partner. This is the first global deal we have signed with a Chinese brand, demonstrating our long-term commitment to the market through pre-season tours and sustained digital fan engagement. Huawei is a genuine leader in its field serving more than a third of the world’s population with its information and communications technology. We are delighted to be partnering with Huawei at such an exciting time in the development of its brand globally, and in particular in the UK and Europe."

The partnership will see global collaboration between the two brands, with Arsenal FC’s officials and players taking part in Huawei’s communication and promotional activities both in the UK and overseas.

Mark Mitchinson, Executive Vice President at Huawei Technologies UK, said: "Huawei is delighted to partner with Arsenal, one of the world’s leading football clubs. We are a young, dynamic brand, as well as a technical leader in our field and this makes us a great brand match for a club with the global stature of Arsenal. We look forward to working with all the team at Emirates Stadium over the coming years.”

The partnership will also include exclusive offers, content and brand presence during Arsenal matches, as well as through the Club’s digital and social media platforms. In addition, Huawei will have access to the Club’s extensive marketing database and exclusive match day hospitality for competition winners at Emirates Stadium.