Ant International teams up with EPL club Tottenham Hotspur in global expansion drive

Singapore-based Ant International will serve as Tottenham Hotspur’s exclusive global payment solutions provider and digital wallet partner

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Ant International expects to score big under a strategic partnership with English Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 8:10pm, 12 Sep 2024

Ant International, the global arm of Chinese fintech giant Ant Group, has entered into a three-year strategic partnership with English Premier League (EPL) football club Tottenham Hotspur, as part of the company’s efforts to expand its reach across overseas markets.

Singapore-based Ant International, through digital payment solutions provider Alipay+ and merchant payment processing service Antom, will serve as Tottenham Hotspur’s exclusive global payments provider and digital wallet partner, the company announced on Thursday.

Payment systems at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London will be supported by Ant International, while the club’s fans around the world can buy the team’s merchandise using the various local partner wallets of Alipay+. In addition, Alipay+ will serve as the first-ever official trainingwear sleeve partner for the club’s men’s and women’s teams.

“Ant Group has a long-standing passion for sports, particularly football, and many of our London office employees are dedicated Spurs fans,” Aaron Wang, vice-president of strategic partnerships at Ant International, told the South China Morning Post in an interview on Thursday.

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min, left, celebrates after scoring the team’s final goal in a 4-0 victory against Everton during their English Premier League match on August 24, 2024, in London. Photo: EPA-EFE

Wang pointed out that Tottenham Hotspur has a strong Asian fan base, on the back of South Korean team captain Son Heung-min as well as Chinese footballer Wang Shuang, who joined the club’s women’s team this year under a contract that runs through 2026.

The partnership with Tottenham Hotspur reflects the efforts of Ant Group, an affiliate of Post owner Alibaba Group Holding, to leverage sports marketing as part of its global expansion strategy.