Zilch Joins Arsenal as the Club’s Official Way to Pay in Landmark Multi-Year Partnership
In a move that blends modern financial technology with one of the world’s most historic and passionately followed football clubs, Zilch—the rapidly growing consumer payments platform—has announced a landmark multi-year partnership with Arsenal Football Club. Under this new agreement, Zilch becomes the Official Way To Pay for Arsenal, marking a major milestone for both organizations and representing Zilch’s first official step into the world of sports partnerships.
The collaboration reflects the convergence of digital financial innovation with global sports fandom, highlighting how payment technology companies are increasingly becoming integral to enhancing fan engagement and accessibility. For Zilch, the opportunity presents an expansion of its mission to make consumer spending more flexible, rewarding, and transparent. For Arsenal, it means strengthening its commercial ecosystem with a partner whose services directly benefit supporters.
A Global Partnership Spanning Arsenal’s Men’s and Women’s Teams
The newly established partnership is global in scope and extends across both Arsenal’s men’s and women’s teams. This reflects the club’s continued commitment to elevating the women’s game while also recognizing the diverse makeup of Arsenal’s worldwide fanbase. With supporters spread across continents and cheering the club on from every corner of the globe, the integration of Zilch’s flexible payment platform adds a new layer of accessibility for fans no matter where they are based.
Zilch’s range of payment solutions—including interest-free options, responsibly structured repayment features, and savings-oriented benefits—will now be available to Arsenal fans as part of the partnership. The goal: make it easier and more affordable for supporters to purchase official merchandise, match tickets, experiences, and other club-related products.
Delivering Immediate Benefits for Fans
To celebrate the launch of the partnership, Zilch has kicked off with a major consumer-facing initiative designed to give back directly to supporters. The company announced that it will distribute £50,000 in total savings to Arsenal fans making purchases on Arsenal Direct, the club’s official online retail store.
Beginning at 12 p.m. on November 21, the first 1,000 supporters who purchase an Arsenal product worth £50 or more will receive £50 off, making their purchase effectively half-price or completely free depending on the item. This initiative aligns with Zilch’s mission to reduce everyday financial strain on consumers by offering value-first rewards and payment flexibility.
This opening campaign also reflects the broader philosophy behind the partnership—bringing fans closer to the club while improving their ability to engage in meaningful and enjoyable ways. Whether it’s buying a new season shirt or picking up exclusive Arsenal merchandise, fans now have access to more cost-conscious purchase options.
A Direct Response to What Football Fans Want
Zilch’s research reveals that 75% of football supporters feel a deeper connection to their club when they can purchase an official shirt every year. Wearing team colours, especially those representing a new season or milestone, is seen by many as a powerful expression of identity, loyalty, and emotional connection to the sport they love.
Understanding this sentiment, Zilch intends to design its Arsenal-focused benefits around what matters most to supporters. From discounts on in-store purchases to opportunities for exclusive matchday experiences, every aspect of the partnership emphasizes enhancing the emotional and practical value of the fan journey.
In addition to online rewards, fans visiting The Armoury, Arsenal’s flagship retail store located next to Emirates Stadium, will be able to enjoy up to 10% off in-store purchases when paying through Zilch. This provides another layer of savings for fans attending matches or visiting the stadium on non-matchdays.
Exclusive Access, Premium Experiences, and More Opportunities for Engagement
Beyond immediate financial benefits, the partnership introduces a range of exclusive fan engagement opportunities designed to reward loyal supporters and offer them closer access to the club. These include:
- Free tickets to every Arsenal home game: Select Zilch users will have the chance to win complimentary matchday seats throughout the season.
- Access to exclusive merchandise drops: Fans can look forward to limited-edition items and early access opportunities facilitated through Zilch.
- Premium hospitality access: Supporters may be rewarded with elevated experiences inside Emirates Stadium, including hospitality packages that offer premium seating, fine dining, and behind-the-scenes access.
- Meet-and-greet sessions with first-team players: A rare opportunity for fans to meet the athletes who represent their club on the pitch.
- Stadium tours and immersive experiences: Zilch will provide opportunities for fans to take part in enhanced stadium experiences, deepening their connection to Arsenal’s history and identity.
These offerings highlight the partnership’s commitment not merely to transactional convenience but to enriching the cultural and emotional elements that define what it means to be an Arsenal supporter.
A Partnership Built on Shared Values
One of the driving forces behind the collaboration is a shared vision for financial responsibility, community support, and fan-centric innovation. Zilch has positioned itself as a challenger in the payments industry, aiming to eliminate high-cost credit by offering a platform that rewards users rather than penalizing them for everyday spending.
The company’s core philosophy revolves around promoting smarter financial habits through consumer-friendly incentives. This emphasis on empowerment and transparency fits well with Arsenal’s values—a club known for strong community engagement, responsible business partnerships, and a long-standing tradition of giving back to supporters.
Statements from Leaders Driving the Partnership
Philip Belamant, CEO and Co-Founder of Zilch, expressed great enthusiasm for the partnership, framing it as a defining milestone in the company’s evolution. He emphasized the organic growth of Zilch’s user base and the alignment between the platform’s customer-first mission and Arsenal’s fan-focused ethos.
“We have spent the past five years building a customer base of over 5 million highly engaged users—and we’ve done so organically through the strength of our proposition. We are hugely excited as we now embark on our first brand partnership with one of the most recognisable brands in the world, Arsenal. The club has a hugely engaged supporter-base, and at a time when sports brands are looking at partners to help bring supporters closer to them and deepen the supporter experience, this partnership aligns perfectly. It is a monumental partnership that sees us not only provide a range of ways to pay for Arsenal supporters, but will strengthen their passion for the team they love even more.”
Belamant’s remarks underscore the significance of partnering with an internationally respected football institution. For Zilch, the alliance amplifies its brand presence on a global scale while reinforcing its commitment to improving financial accessibility.
Juliet Slot, Chief Commercial Officer at Arsenal, echoed this enthusiasm and emphasized how the partnership supports the club’s goals.
“We are delighted to welcome Zilch to the Arsenal family as a new Partner. Zilch is a new and exciting proposition with an industry-leading brand that will put our supporters at the heart of everything we want to achieve together. Their support and investment will help drive our ambition to win major trophies, and we’re looking forward to bringing new ways for our global Arsenal family to feel even closer to the club.”
Slot’s comments highlight the club’s strategic focus on improving supporter experience while also strengthening the commercial foundation that supports Arsenal’s competitive ambitions, including continued investment in both the men’s and women’s squads.
Why This Partnership Matters in the Modern Sports Landscape
The partnership arrives at a moment when the sports industry is increasingly embracing technology-driven solutions to enhance fan engagement, simplify financial transactions, and create new revenue opportunities. Fintech brands are becoming more visible within sports sponsorship portfolios, reflecting a shift in consumer behaviour and expectations around digital-first experiences.
By becoming Arsenal’s Official Way To Pay, Zilch positions itself at the intersection of emotion-driven fandom and day-to-day financial decision-making. The collaboration demonstrates how digital payment platforms can step beyond traditional retail contexts and become essential to culture-driven environments like professional sports.
For Arsenal, integrating Zilch into its ecosystem complements its wider strategy of modernization. From matchday operations to global digital outreach, the club continues to evolve with the changing expectations of supporters worldwide.
As the partnership unfolds over the coming years, supporters can expect an expanding range of rewards, experiences, and innovations driven jointly by Arsenal and Zilch. Both organizations have signalled a strong commitment to building transformational fan-focused initiatives that democratize access to official merchandise, enhance matchday excitement, and create meaningful connections.
With Zilch’s technology powering new ways to pay and save, and Arsenal’s global reach providing a passionate audience, the collaboration promises to reshape the intersection of financial innovation and sports fandom.
About Zilch.
Zilch is the London-headquartered consumer payments platform making money go further. Launched in 2020 with a mission to eliminate high-cost credit, Zilch offers a new type of payments experience combining flexible ways to pay with meaningful rewards, putting consumers in control of their finances while bringing them closer to the brands they love.
With over 5 million registered customers, Zilch uses its technology to connect its highly engaged user base with retailers and brands helping them acquire customers more efficiently whilst delivering consumers personalised rewards, benefits and discounts. With a valuation of $2 billion and backed by leading global partners including AWS, Deutsche Bank and Visa, the business has rapidly scaled to become the UK and EMEA’s fastest-growing fintech unicorn, harnessing the power of credit, AI technology and data to improve financial outcomes for consumers and drive growth through rewiring the economics of global commerce.
Learn more at www.zilch.com.
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