Soccer: Premier League switch to Barclaycard

Barclaycard are the new sponsors of the FA Premier League.

The deal with the card services company, worth £48m over three years, will see the league named the FA Barclaycard Premiership from next season.

The decision followed a meeting of the FA Premier League clubs, who unanimously agreed the new deal.

Current sponsors Carling, whose deal expires this season, paid £36m for their three-year sponsorship of the Premier League so the new deal represents a 33% increase.

The league's chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "This is an exceptionally good deal for both parties.

"This is a great opportunity for the league and Barclaycard to build on each other's strength and growing reputation throughout the world."

Barclaycard chief executive Bob Potts added: "The Premiership will be the platform to take our business into a league of its own.

"This is the kind of significant strategic investment which we have been looking to make for some time."