XL Group has signed a £2.5 million a year shirt sponsorship deal with struggling Premiership football team West Ham United.
The group owns charter aircraft, dynamic packaging website XL.com and up market operator Aspire.
The deal starts from next season, although it is believed there is a clause to reduce the size of the contract if West Ham – which is second from bottom in the Premiership after losing to relegation rivals Charlton at the weekend – is relegated.
The deal follows on from Thomas Cook‘s sponsorship of Manchester City and Thomson sponsorship of Premiership rivals Tottenham Hotspur between 2002 and 2006.