Ant International has signed a three-year strategic partnership with Tottenham Hotspur to become the Premier League club’s Global Payment Solutions and Digital Wallet Partner.
The Chinese digital payment and financial technology firm has been taking advantage of the sports sponsorship market to grow its brand awareness at a time of fast expansion in the UK and Europe.
Ant International has a rich portfolio of experience in driving digital engagement through football, having sponsored both the UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024 tournaments.
Alipay+, Antom and WorldFirst gain exposure via Tottenham Hotspur
The partnership sees Ant International, together with its business brands Alipay+, Antom, and WorldFirst, become the exclusive Official Global Payment Solutions and Digital Wallet Partner of Tottenham Hotspur, and Alipay+ the first Official Training Wear Sleeve Partner for both the men’s and women’s teams.
The company’s digital technology solutions brand Alipay+ and merchant payment services brand Antom will provide a seamless payment experience for fans at the club’s stadium and on e-commerce platforms, using payment methods widely used in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
Ant International will also support the Tottenham Hotspur’s on activations to drive growth of and engagement with our fanbase in the APAC region via its partner digital payment apps, including Alipay.
“Football has the power to transcend borders”
Yang Peng, Chief Executive Officer, Ant International said: “Football is a game that can be enjoyed by everyone and has the power to transcend borders, bringing people together. This aligns with Ant International’s mission in our globalization – leveraging technological innovation to provide individuals and small businesses with greater access to inclusive financial services.
“Tottenham Hotspur has the forward-looking vision of leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance the fan experience. We resonate with the Club’s ‘To Dare is To Do’ spirit and look forward to working closely with Tottenham Hotspur to engage with its global fanbase through our innovative payment and digitalisation solutions, inspiring the 1.6 billion consumers served by Alipay+ and its partners through the sport and the Club.”
Daniel Levy, Chairman, Tottenham Hotspur said: “The Club and Ant International are fully aligned as we look to deepen connections with our football fans through digital interactions. We shall also be supporting the growth in awareness of the Ant International brand across our extensive global platforms as an elite Premier League Club.
“Ant International, together with its ecosystem associates, brings a wealth of experience in digital fan engagement in football following its partnerships during the two most recent UEFA European championships. We are excited to work with them to enhance the digital experience for our fans in-Stadium and online – and further engage our fanbase across the APAC region.”
BNP Paribas and Ant to strengthen WorldFirst in SEPA
BNP Paribas and Ant International have recently joined forces to enhance cross-border payment solutions for merchants and consumers in Europe. BNP Paribas will work with Alipay+, the cross-border mobile payment and digitalization technology solutions operated by Ant International, to enable thousands of merchants that use BNP Paribas’ acquiring service across Europe to accept payments from more than 25 international mobile partners via Alipay+.
