Everton Announces Christopher Ward as First Training Kit Partner 2026

Key Points

• Everton has appointed Christopher Ward as its first-ever Official Training Kit Partner.
• The multi-year agreement begins with branding on Men’s and Women’s training wear from the 2026/27 season.
• Christopher Ward branding will also appear on Under-21s, Under-18s and Academy training kits from the 2027/28 season.
• The deal includes visibility on LED advertising, media backdrops and in-stadium branding at Hill Dickinson Stadium and Goodison Park.
• Replica training items for supporters will carry Christopher Ward branding on all Men’s and Women’s versions.
• This expands an existing partnership that started with Christopher Ward as Everton’s Official Global Timing Partner.
• Christopher Ward is also Everton’s Official Shirt Sleeve Partner and a Founding Partner of Hill Dickinson Stadium.
• The club has launched 53° North, a premium watch showroom inside Hill Dickinson Stadium, as part of the partnership.
• Everton has created three exclusive Christopher Ward timepieces inspired by club heritage: The Dixie Dean, The Goodison and The Goodison 3.1.
• Andrew Middleton, President of Business Operations at Everton, highlighted the “bold, innovative and committed” nature of the partnership.
• Mike France, CEO and Co-founder of Christopher Ward, said the deal reflects alignment between precision watchmaking and elite football performance.
• The agreement follows recent commercial deals with CMC Markets as Main Partner and Stake as Official Sleeve Partner.

Everton FC (Liverpool standard) July 09, 2026 – uk/local/everton/">Everton Football Club has confirmed Christopher Ward as its first-ever Official Training Kit Partner, marking a major evolution in a partnership that has grown from timing to shirt sleeves, stadium founding and now the daily training environment.

The new multi-year agreement means Christopher Ward branding will appear on Men’s and Women’s training wear from the 2026/27 season, with additional visibility across social channels, LED advertising, media backdrops and in-stadium branding at both Hill Dickinson Stadium and Goodison Park. From the 2027/28 season, the branding will extend to Under-21s, Under-18s and Academy training kits, while continuing on senior teams and all Men’s and Women’s replica training items available to supporters.

What Does the New Training Kit Partnership Mean for Everton and Christopher Ward?

As reported by the club’s official communications, Everton described the deal as “the latest evolution in the Club’s relationship with Christopher Ward”, which began as Official Global Timing Partner and has continued through roles as Official Shirt Sleeve Partner, Founding Partner of Hill Dickinson Stadium, and supporter of Everton Women and Everton in the Community.

The Official Training Kit Partner designation places Christopher Ward directly inside Everton’s training ground environment, where teams “prepare, develop and strive for excellence every day”, according to Andrew Middleton, President of Business Operations at Everton. He said the partnership reflects the “strength of the relationship” and provides “valuable global exposure through training and matchday activity”.

Middleton also noted Christopher Ward’s role as a Founding Partner of Hill Dickinson Stadium, the creation of 53° North, and support for Everton Women and Everton in the Community as evidence of a “genuine understanding of this Club, our supporters and our ambitions for the future”.

How Will Christopher Ward Branding Be Displayed Across Everton’s Training and Matchday Set-Up?

According to Everton’s statement, Christopher Ward will become part of the training ground environment from the 2026/27 season, with branding on Men’s and Women’s training wear. The agreement will also deliver “significant visibility across Everton’s social and matchday platforms”, including LED advertising, media backdrops and in-stadium branding at both Hill Dickinson Stadium and Goodison Park.

From 2027/28, the deal expands further to include Under-21s, Under-18s and Academy training kit, while continuing on senior Men’s and Women’s training wear. Christopher Ward branding will also feature on all Men’s and Women’s replica training items available to supporters, ensuring fans can wear the same training kit design as the players.

What Is the Background of Christopher Ward’s Partnership with Everton?

Christopher Ward’s relationship with Everton began as Official Global Timing Partner and has grown through multiple roles. The company is Everton’s Official Shirt Sleeve Partner and a Founding Partner of Hill Dickinson Stadium, while also supporting Everton Women and Everton in the Community.

Last season, Everton opened 53° North at Hill Dickinson Stadium, described as “the world’s first premium watch showroom inside a sporting stadium”. The space has brought supporters closer to “the craft, precision and design of mechanical watchmaking”, according to the club.

As part of its wider partnership, Christopher Ward has created three exclusive Everton-inspired timepieces:

• The Dixie Dean, a 60-piece limited edition honouring one of football’s greatest goalscorers.
• The Goodison, featuring a caseback made from Goodison Park’s iconic 1930s turnstiles.
• The Goodison 3.1, commemorating one of the Club’s most famous victories.

As reported by the club, these watches celebrate Everton’s heritage and its connection with supporters.

How Do Everton and Christopher Ward Describe the Alignment Between Watchmaking and Football?

Andrew Middleton said Christopher Ward has been a “bold, innovative and committed partner to Everton”, and that the landmark agreement places the brand “directly within the environment where our teams prepare, develop and strive for excellence every day”.

Mike France, CEO and Co-founder of Christopher Ward, said:

“We believe that excellence is built on the smallest details – whether in the precision of a mechanical watch or the marginal gains that define elite football.”

He described the Training Kit Partner role as a “natural next step in our journey together”, embedding the brand “even further into the Club – in the daily environment where performance is really shaped, behind the scenes on the training ground”.

France highlighted the alignment between the two worlds:

“the discipline, precision and constant refinement that sits beneath the surface” and a “relentless drive to improve”.

What Does This Deal Signal for Everton’s Commercial Strategy and Stadium Era?

The agreement follows last season’s opening of 53° North and builds on Christopher Ward’s existing roles as Official Shirt Sleeve Partner and Founding Partner of Hill Dickinson Stadium. Everton said the deal “further underlines the continued growth of Everton’s commercial portfolio”.

This latest partnership comes after the recent confirmation of CMC Markets as the Club’s new Main Partner on the front of Everton shirts and Stake as the Club’s Official Sleeve Partner. Together, the agreements reflect

“the increasing strength of Everton’s partnership proposition and the opportunities created by the Club’s new stadium era at Hill Dickinson Stadium, alongside the continued growth of Everton Women at Goodison Park”, according to the club’s statement.

Who Are the Key Figures Behind the Partnership and What Are Their Statements?

Andrew Middleton, President of Business Operations at Everton, stated: “Christopher Ward has been a bold, innovative and committed partner to Everton, and we are delighted to see that relationship continue to grow through this landmark agreement.” He added that the deal

“not only reflects the strength of the partnership, but places Christopher Ward directly within the environment where our teams prepare, develop and strive for excellence every day”.

Middleton also said:

“From their role as a Founding Partner of Hill Dickinson Stadium, to the creation of 53° North and their support for Everton Women and Everton in the Community, Christopher Ward has consistently shown a genuine understanding of this Club, our supporters and our ambitions for the future.” He concluded:

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with Mike France and the Christopher Ward team as we build on this partnership and explore new opportunities together during this exciting next chapter for the Club.”

Mike France, CEO and Co-founder of Christopher Ward, said:

“Becoming Everton’s first-ever Training Kit Partner feels like a natural next step in our journey together.” He explained that the deal builds on the brand’s presence “both on and off matchday by embedding us even further into the Club”.

France added:

“That’s something we recognise deeply in watchmaking: the discipline, precision and constant refinement that sits beneath the surface. There’s a genuine alignment between our worlds, built on timing and a relentless drive to improve.”

Background: The Development of the Christopher Ward–Everton Partnership

Christopher Ward’s relationship with Everton began as Official Global Timing Partner, establishing a link between precision timekeeping and elite sport. Over time, the partnership expanded into the Official Shirt Sleeve Partner role, giving Christopher Ward visibility on matchday kits.

The company also became a Founding Partner of Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton’s new home, and supported initiatives including Everton Women and Everton in the Community. The launch of 53° North inside Hill Dickinson Stadium marked a significant step, creating a premium watch showroom within a sporting venue and deepening the brand’s connection with fans.

Exclusive timepieces such as The Dixie Dean, The Goodison and The Goodison 3.1 were developed to celebrate Everton’s history, further embedding Christopher Ward in the club’s narrative. The new Official Training Kit Partner role now extends that presence into the training ground, covering senior teams, academy sides and replica products for supporters.

Prediction: How This Partnership Development Can Affect Everton Supporters, Players and Local Community

For Everton supporters, the training kit partnership means greater access to branded replica training wear that mirrors what the players use, strengthening the link between fans and the team. The expanded visibility on LED advertising, media backdrops and in-stadium branding at both Hill Dickinson Stadium and Goodison Park will make Christopher Ward a more prominent part of the matchday experience.

For players and the academy, the partnership reinforces a professional environment where branding is integrated into daily training, potentially enhancing the perceived value of the training set-up. The inclusion of Under-21s, Under-18s and Academy kits from 2027/28 signals long-term investment in younger squads and their connection with a high-precision partner.

For the local community in Liverpool and Merseyside, the continued support for Everton Women and Everton in the Community, alongside the presence of 53° North at Hill Dickinson Stadium, suggests that the partnership will contribute to broader engagement beyond men’s football. The deal may also encourage further commercial interest in Everton’s new stadium era, potentially leading to more opportunities for local businesses and community programmes linked to the club.