Barclays agree new Premier League deal

The Premier League and Barclays have agreed a new three-year title sponsorship deal worth £82.25million to top-flight clubs.

The new deal has come after league chiefs initially rejected a lower offer from the bank.

Barclays have sponsored the Premier League since 2004 and their current three-year contract, which expires next year, was worth £65.8million.

The increase in the value of the deal reflects the continuing strength of the Premier League in a sponsorship market which has been badly affected by the economic downturn in other areas of sport.

The Premier League was formed in 1992 and has had a sponsor since 1993. From 2001 until 2004, Barclaycard was the official sponsor and before that it was the Carling lager brand.

The deal will run from the 2010-11 season to the end of the 2012-13 season.