Bundesliga: Chinese electronics company Hisense to sponsor Schalke 04 through 2016-17

The Chinese electronics company Hisense will sponsor Schalke 04 (Bundesliga) through 2016-17, the club said on 17/07/2014. The deal has a clause for extending the partnership through 2018-19.

The Chinese manufacturer of TV sets and domestic appliances will be on the LED advertising boards in the Veltins Arena (capacity 69,000) and will collaborate on several actions with the club. The partnership is estimated at €1.6m per year.

“For Schalke 04, this collaboration with Hisense is another important landmark on our journey of internationalisation. As you know, we have had an increased focus on the Asian market for some time," said Alexander Jobst, Schalke 04's marketing director. The club also partnered with the Chinese group Huawei, which specialises in communication technologies, on 15/07/2014. The club is developing a digital strategy on for Chinese social networks. Schalke 04 had 200,000 followers on Sina Weibo as of 07/04/2014.

• Schalke 04 finished third in Bundesliga in 2013-14.