EA Sports renews Premier League partnership, granting access to ‘every club, player and more’

EA Sports has renewed its long-running partnership with the Premier League, which will see it continue to use players, stadiums and more in its football games.

The publisher has been a lead partner of the Premier League since the 2016/17 season, while the licensing agreement with the League for its games goes back to the 1998/99 campaign.

It was previously reported that the deal, which grants EA exclusive game rights to the Premier League, would be worth £488 million over six years.

The deal comes as EA prepares to launch its new football franchise without the FIFA license, EA Sports FC, after the pair ended their decades-long relationship this year.

EA Sports FC 24 will feature all 20 Premier League clubs, including every player, manager, stadium, kit and more, represented in-game, according to EA.

The partnership also includes a long-term commitment for the Premier League and EA Sports to work together on the creation of community programmes, it said, including school football initiatives and investment into grassroots facilities, with the launch of ‘EA Sports FC Futures’.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “Through our long-term partnership, the Premier League and EA Sports have inspired generations of football fans and we look forward to developing this in the years to come.

“The new EA Sports FC 24 game is a significant evolution which we are proud to be a part of. Beyond this, we will continue to develop existing projects as well as introducing exciting new ones.

“Thanks to EA Sports’ support, the ePremier League tournament has been a major success over the last five seasons and we are now developing community initiatives together across the country and in other locations globally.”

Last season marked the fifth instalment of the ePremier League, an esports tournament which has given fans a chance to win silverware representing their favourite clubs.

EA Sports president Cam Weber said: “EA Sports FC is built on a platform of authenticity and innovation, and our renewed partnership with the Premier League will bring fans closer to their favourite clubs and players.

“Across the entire EA Sports FC ecosystem, the ePremier League, and our shared commitment to investing in community-level football, we’re proud to call the Premier League our partner both on and off the pitch.”

Further reading

Preview: Is EA Sports FC 24 a career resurgence or a farmer’s league cash-grab?

New name, same game? VGC goes hands-on with the FIFA successor

VGC recently had the chance to go hands-on with EA Sports FC 24.

“There is some sense that this year will see a huge amount of transition, with a significant number of mechanical changes that’ll be refined in a year’s time, but it’s a great start from what we’ve played,” Jordan Middler wrote in our preview. “It both feels like FIFA 24 and doesn’t at the same time, which feels like the perfect balance to us.

“But the real question is, with the reins now off and FIFA’s control over the franchise gone, what does EA have up its sleeve to breathe new life into gaming’s cornerstone sports franchise?”