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Japanese video game developer Konami has announced the renewal of its partnership with Spanish soccer giants Barcelona.
The renewal of the deal, which first began seven years ago in the 2016-17 season, sees Konami remain as Barcelona’s official football video game partner.
Konami retains rights to player access, media opportunities, and event exposure. Additionally, Barcelona legends Rivaldo, Patrick Kluivert, and Javier Saviola will be added to the game, while Barcelona’s Camp Nou will be exclusive to Konami's eFootball game.
Naoki Morita, Konami’s European President, said: “It is very exciting to be announcing an extension to such a successful partnership. FC Barcelona are truly one of the giants of world football, we are proud to have them as part of the eFootball series now and for the next few years thanks to this renewal.
“To have secured a bright future that will include a multitude of commercial, image, and esports rights and activations is fantastic for Konami and for the eFootball series. We endeavor to keep evolving our product to bring the best user experience possible.”
Juli Guiu, Barcelona's vice president of marketing, added: “We are very pleased to renew our agreement with Konami, a company that over the years has always demonstrated its commitment to FC Barcelona.
“Konami is a benchmark in the video game sector and will help us to forge new synergies with young audiences and to continue to explore possibilities in the realm of digital entertainment, a key sector for the expansion of our brand in the coming years.”
Other partner clubs of eFootball include Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Lazio, and AC Monza.