Ineos in talks over early termination of Tottenham sponsorship

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By Martin Graham | 20th Feb 2025

Ineos is currently in negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur regarding an early termination of their sponsorship agreement. The British petrochemical giant, which co-owns Manchester United, initially partnered with Spurs in 2020 as the club’s official hand sanitizer supplier during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In December 2022, the company expanded its involvement by securing a multi-year agreement to become Tottenham’s official 4×4 vehicle partner. However, sources indicate that an option exists to conclude the contract at the end of the current season, and discussions – described as “amicable” – are ongoing.

The partnership began before Ineos acquired a 27.7% share of Manchester United for $1.6 billion (£1.25 billion) in February 2024. Since the deal, the Ineos Grenadier logo has been prominently displayed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, including on dugout seat headrests. Additionally, Spurs players such as Dominic Solanke and Ben Davies have featured in promotional content for the vehicle.

Both Ineos and Tottenham have opted not to comment on the matter.

Recent sponsorship withdrawals

This development follows Ineos’ decision to prematurely end its sponsorship agreement with New Zealand Rugby (NZR). The company attributed the move to “cost-saving measures” across its operations, a decision that has led to legal action from the rugby governing body.

Last month, Ineos also ended its association with four-time Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie, withdrawing financial support from the Britannia America’s Cup sailing team after backing it since 2018.

Cost-cutting at Manchester United

Meanwhile, Ineos’ co-owner and chairman, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is reportedly considering additional staff reductions at Manchester United. The company has already implemented cuts at the club, including 250 redundancies, removing Sir Alex Ferguson from his role as a paid ambassador, and discontinuing complimentary travel for staff attending finals.

These recent moves reflect a broader strategy by Ineos to reduce expenses across various business ventures.

Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer