14/07/2026
: Rwanda signs partnership agreement with Aston Villa
English Premier League's football club "Aston Villa" has signed a partnership agreement with Visit Rwanda, under which it will promote Rwanda's tourism by displaying the Visit Rwanda brand on the front of its jerseys.
Visit Rwanda will replace Betano, the betting company that had previously appeared on the front of Aston Villa's shirts.
The club needed a new sponsor following the Premier League's decision to ban gambling companies from advertising on the front of players' shirts starting from the 2026/2027 season.
Aston Villa's Chief Business Officer, Francesco Calvo, had been tasked with securing new sponsors and increasing the club's commercial revenue.
Sources familiar with the agreement say it could be the most valuable sponsorship deal in Aston Villa's history.
Aston Villa becomes another major European club to partner with Visit Rwanda, Rwanda's national campaign aimed at promoting the country as a tourism and investment destination.
Visit Rwanda already has partnerships with Paris Saint-Germain of France and Atlético de Madrid of Spain.
It also partnered with Arsenal of England for eight years, with the Visit Rwanda logo appearing on the sleeves of the players' shirts.
Having the Visit Rwanda logo on the front of Aston Villa's shirts will give the brand greater visibility in Premier League matches, European competitions, marketing campaigns, and the club's merchandise.
Aston Villa is one of England's most historic football clubs. It won the European Cup (now the UEFA Champions League) in 1982, and in 2026 it won the UEFA Europa League. In recent years, the club has re-emerged as one of the teams competing for top positions in the Premier League.