Congo-Kinshasa: Barcelona Signs Shirt Sponsorship Deal with War-Torn DR Congo

Barcelona
DR Congo signed a $50 Million partnership with football giants Barcelona.
1 August 2025
allAfrica.com

Barcelona is set to feature  "DR Congo - Heart of Africa" on the back of their training shirts from next season, following a $50 million four-year partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

The deal, aimed at promoting tourism and investment, has sparked debate in DR Congo, where critics argue the funds should address pressing domestic needs, such as the chronically underfunded national football league. Supporters, however, see it as a valuable opportunity to raise the country's global profile.

As part of the agreement, Barcelona's Camp Nou will host an exhibition showing DR Congo's culture and sports, and training camps will be organized for Congolese youth and coaches across various sports. The DR Congo has also signed similar deals with AC Milan and AS Monaco.

The move mirrors Rwanda's controversial "Visit Rwanda: sponsorships with top European clubs, which have faced criticism amid accusations of the country's involvement in the eastern DR Congo conflict.

DR Congo officials defend the partnerships as strategic investments; however, others worry they could overshadow the ongoing insecurity and human rights concerns in the region.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2025 allAfrica.com. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.