Arsenal are set to miss out on a potential £236million transfer windfall as reports say Barcelona have accepted a sponsorship deal with Spotify that was originally offered to the Gunners.
Spotify co-founder and Arsenal fan Daniel Ek originally offered to purchase the naming rights of the stadium, according to The Mirror, before pushing for a potential takeover at the club.
Neither came to fruition for Ek though, with the Kronkes standing firm on both fronts to keep their majority shares in the club.
As a result, it seems as though the music streaming service has looked elsewhere for sponsorship deals within football.
And now, Barcelona are set to announce a deal with the company that will see the naming rights for the Nou Camp changed to include Spotify in the title.
The deal comes at a time of uncertainty for the Blaugrana, who have recently struggled with the weight of financial struggles.
The La Liga side have been unable to extend the contract of the likes of Lionel Messi, while moving on a number of players such as Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho.
The side have managed to begin a slight rebuild under new boss and former midfielder Xavi, however it is still on the basis of cheaper deals and other players leaving.
However, the deal with Spotify is said to be worth £236million to the club and is set to clear some debt while freeing up transfer funds for the Spaniard in the summer.
It represents somewhat of a loss to the Gunners, as they could have been the recipient of the influx of revenue in a time where the club is looking to build towards the future in the transfer market.
The move from Spotify may have been flawed in the first place though, with Emirates currently owning the naming rights to the stadium until 2028 after an extension to the sponsorship back in 2012.
The move from Ek could have given the Gunners more spending power in the transfer market, but after moving on, it seems as though it is Barcelona that will benefit from Spotify’s delve into the football world.
