French chemicals firm Arkema has been announced as the first ever title sponsor of Division 1 Féminine, the top flight of women’s soccer in France.
The three-year deal, which was announced by the French Football Federation (FFF), soccer’s governing body in the country, will see the league become D1 Arkema from the start of the new season until the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
Commenting on the tie-up, FFF president Noël Le Graët described it as “great news” and “an important milestone” for the development of women’s soccer.
The partnership also extends Arkema’s support of women’s soccer after the company became the first domestic brand to sign up as a sponsor of the ongoing Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Thierry Le Hénaff, chief executive of Arkema, said becoming the title sponsor of Division 1 Féminine was a “natural extension” of the company’s partnership with women’s soccer’s flagship international tournament.
He added: “To develop women's football on the national territory is a great opportunity to further enhance the image and place of women in society. The world is changing, it is essential to take a different look, to move the lines. At Arkema, it's our state of mind and our conviction.”
The agreement is the second major sponsorship deal to be signed in domestic women’s soccer in recent times. In March, England’s Football Association (FA) unveiled banking group Barclays as the first ever title sponsor of the top-flight Women’s Super League (WSL).
It is also the second new title partnership announced in French soccer this month, following Ligue 1’s agreement with food delivery service Uber Eats.
Division 1 Féminine is home to a number of women’s soccer’s top stars and Europe’s most successful women’s team in the form of Olympique Lyonnais Féminin. Lyon’s women’s side have won the domestic league 17 times and the Uefa Women’s Champions League on six occasions.
French chemicals firm Arkema has been announced as the first ever title sponsor of Division 1 Féminine, the top flight of women’s soccer in France.
The three-year deal, which was announced by the French Football Federation (FFF), soccer’s governing body in the country, will see the league become D1 Arkema from the start of the new season until the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
Commenting on the tie-up, FFF president Noël Le Graët described it as “great news” and “an important milestone” for the development of women’s soccer.
The partnership also extends Arkema’s support of women’s soccer after the company became the first domestic brand to sign up as a sponsor of the ongoing Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Thierry Le Hénaff, chief executive of Arkema, said becoming the title sponsor of Division 1 Féminine was a “natural extension” of the company’s partnership with women’s soccer’s flagship international tournament.
He added: “To develop women's football on the national territory is a great opportunity to further enhance the image and place of women in society. The world is changing, it is essential to take a different look, to move the lines. At Arkema, it's our state of mind and our conviction.”
The agreement is the second major sponsorship deal to be signed in domestic women’s soccer in recent times. In March, England’s Football Association (FA) unveiled banking group Barclays as the first ever title sponsor of the top-flight Women’s Super League (WSL).
It is also the second new title partnership announced in French soccer this month, following Ligue 1’s agreement with food delivery service Uber Eats.
Division 1 Féminine is home to a number of women’s soccer’s top stars and Europe’s most successful women’s team in the form of Olympique Lyonnais Féminin. Lyon’s women’s side have won the domestic league 17 times and the Uefa Women’s Champions League on six occasions.
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