The Italian giants, Inter Milan and AC Milan, have announced separate agreements with BBVA and DHL respectively, underscoring the growing importance of technology, fan engagement and operational expertise in modern football partnerships.
Inter Milan have entered into a multi-year strategic partnership with Spanish banking group BBVA, which has joined the club as its sleeve partner across the men’s first team, women’s team, Under-23, Under-20 and Legends squads. The agreement also includes front-of-shirt branding for Inter’s academy teams, giving BBVA visibility throughout the club’s player development pathway.
The collaboration has been designed around innovation rather than conventional sponsorship exposure. BBVA and Inter will work together to develop exclusive fan experiences, digital activations, premium content and customer rewards, using technology to strengthen engagement with supporters while supporting the bank’s continued expansion in the Italian market.
Giorgio Ricci, Chief Revenue Officer of FC Internazionale Milano, said, “Our ambition is to build collaborations that create real value not only for brands, but also for people. In BBVA, we have found much more than a partner; we have found a company that shares our belief that technology and innovation should make experiences better and more accessible. Together, we want to create new ways of bringing football closer to people and delivering the benefits that two innovative brands can offer.”
The agreement also reinforces BBVA’s strategy of accelerating its digital banking presence in Italy by leveraging one of Serie A‘s most globally recognised football brands to connect with new and existing customers.
Meanwhile, city rivals AC Milan have appointed global logistics leader DHL as their premium partner and logistics partner ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Under the agreement, DHL will manage the transportation of team equipment, support the club’s logistics during international tours and oversee the global distribution of official AC Milan merchandise. The company has also been named presenting partner of the club’s 2026 pre-season tour, further strengthening its visibility across Milan’s international activities.
The partnership highlights the increasingly strategic role logistics providers play in elite sport, where expanding global fanbases, international tours and growing e-commerce operations demand sophisticated supply chain capabilities. For AC Milan, the collaboration is expected to enhance operational efficiency while supporting the club’s worldwide commercial ambitions.
Collectively, the two announcements reflect a broader shift in football sponsorship, where partnerships are increasingly centred on delivering tangible business outcomes through technology, customer engagement and specialist expertise rather than brand exposure alone.