Arsenal have confirmed their partnership with Visit Rwanda as the club's sleeve sponsor will conclude at the end of the current season after years of fans speaking out about the partnership.
The sleeve partnership began in 2018 and the current deal is reportedly worth more than £10m ($13.3m) per year. As per the BBC, it has fallen under the media spotlight after increased violence in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Arsenal are moving on
Arsenal fan group Gunners For Peace (GFP) staged a protest against the sponsorship in April, whilst many on social media have pointed out why the deal goes against the club’s values.
A statement posted by the club on Wednesday morning read: "Arsenal and Visit Rwanda to conclude a landmark eight-season partnership in June 2026
"Arsenal and the Rwanda Development Board have mutually agreed to conclude their partnership at the end of this season, bringing to a close an eight-season collaboration that included Visit Rwanda as Arsenal’s first Official Sleeve Partner.
"The move reflects Visit Rwanda’s broader strategy to diversify its global sports partnerships and expand into new markets that support the next phase of its tourism and investment ambitions.
"Together, Arsenal and the Rwanda Development Board have exceeded the original goals of the partnership - promoting conservation and sustainable tourism, inspiring millions of supporters to discover the country, and creating a lasting foundation for tourism growth."
The shirt deal has helped Rwanda tourism
Jean-Guy Afrika, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, spoke on the impact of the partnership, which he says has greatly helped the country attract more visitors:
“We are proud of what this partnership has achieved over many years of collaboration. It broke new ground for tourism boards around the world, driving awareness and visitation for Rwandan tourism at a pace traditional campaigns could never match.
"And whilst we are now focused on expanding that momentum into new sports and new markets, we remain grateful to Arsenal for its support, partnership, and shared belief in Rwanda’s story over the past eight years.
"We look forward to continuing our relationship with the wider Kroenke Sports & Entertainment Group through our recent partnerships with the LA Rams and So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles, and we remain a fully committed and engaged partner of Arsenal’s men’s and women’s teams for the remainder of the season. We wish them all the very best in their continuing quest for even