Manchester United have signed a lucrative five-year partnership with Chinese electronics manufacturer Aigo.

The deal will see the Chinese company make and distribute Manchester United branded mobile phones in China and cameras, multimedia players, data storage devices and mobile phones around the world.

Though financial details were not disclosed, the club said it expects the partnership to be "up there" with its biggest commercial deals - excluding its shirt sponsorship - and it would be a surprise if it does not see the club's coffers swell by at least US$5 million per year.

"China has always been something of a second home for Manchester United," said United commercial director Richard Arnold. "We have been to China on tour five times in the last decade. Now we have found our first Chinese partner to join our family. Some 71 million of our 330 million fans worldwide live in China."

United chief executive David Gill added: "This deal is a further demonstration of the global appeal of Manchester United."

United took record annual revenues of US$412 million during the 2007/08 season.