Manchester United signs development partnership in Azerbaijan

English Premier League football club Manchester United has signed a partnership with the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) and mobile telecommunications provider Bakcell as part of an effort to develop grassroots football in the country, SportBusiness reports.

The move marks United’s first partnership with an official federation. The agreement is expected to see the AFFA become the club’s only football development partner. Under the initiative, club sponsor and Azeri company Bakcell will collaborate with the AFFA to promote and develop youth football in Azerbaijan.

The Manchester United Soccer School youth initiative, supported by the AFFA and Bakcell, will help children in Azerbaijan learn to play football through coaching from the club’s Soccer School staff.

“Azerbaijan is a burgeoning football nation and is home to over a million Manchester United followers, so founding this relationship with the help of our friends at Bakcell is a fantastic development,” United’s group managing director, Richard Arnold, was quoted as saying by SportBusiness.