Everton look to reach new market as major agreement confirmed

Everton look to reach new market as major agreement confirmed

The Blues have formed a partnership with Japan K-League side Nagoya Grampus

Koki Konishi, Nagoya Grampus Senior Executive Advisor, and Angus Kinnear, Everton CEO, pictured at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium. Image: Everton FC

Everton have entered a strategic partnership with Japanese club Nagoya Grampus as part of efforts to grow the club’s reach in Asia.

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The bond will involve the Blues working with the K-League side in areas including player scouting, academy tours and youth development. The insight of Everton coaching and performance experts will also be made available to the club, based in Nagoya, a city situated between Tokyo and Kyoto.

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The move, which will also see the clubs work together on community initiatives in both countries, is part of work by Everton to expand its presence in Asia with the hope of improving commercial opportunities.

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Tentative links already exist between the two clubs. Former Everton striker Gary Lineker ended his career with Grampus, while a similar partnership between the Blues’ Friedkin Group sister club, Roma, has been in place for several years. One of TFG’s main lines of business is the distribution of Toyota vehicles and the company has historic ties with Grampus, who play at the Toyota Stadium.

On the deal, Everton chief executive Angus Kinnear said:“It is a true honour for Everton to be entering into a special partnership with Nagoya Grampus. This partnership reflects Everton’s ambition to build purposeful, rewarding and long-term relationships with organisations and clubs who share our values and vision.

“Nagoya Grampus is an organisation with a deep community focus and a clear commitment to development, and we’re excited about the opportunities this collaboration presents across football, commercial growth and social impact. We look forward to learning from each other and delivering meaningful benefits for both clubs – and our respective communities.”

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Everton hope the partnership will help the club gain a foothold in new international markets, a potential boon for future sponsorship deals in Japan and beyond.

On a football level the co-operation will exist between men and women’s teams. It follows Everton Women boss Brian Sorensen’s turn towards Japan internationals as he has strengthened his team over the past year.

Rion Ishikawa, Hikaru Kitagawa and Yuka Momiki have all signed this summer, joining international teammate Honoka Hayashi, who moved to Merseyside 12 months ago.

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Grampus Chairman, Moritaka Yoshida, said: “We are extremely pleased to have entered into this strategic partnership with Everton, a club with a long history and a strong connection to its community.

“Everton is actively engaged not only in football but also in sustainability and social contribution activities, values that align with Nagoya Grampus’s vision of becoming ‘the number one club in our town’.

“Through this partnership, we aim to strengthen player development and team growth with initiatives such as data analytics systems, information exchange in scouting, and various sustainable initiatives, all of which will contribute to the growth of both clubs.”

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