Tottenham could be set to agree a £5million deal after an INEOS controversy has emerged.
The petrochemicals company, which is spearheaded by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, first partnered with Spurs in 2020 after agreeing to become their official hand sanitiser and 4×4 vehicle partners.
The deal was later expanded in 2022, with the INEOS brand displayed in the dugout of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
INEOS held talks to end the Tottenham sponsorship in February as Ratcliffe continues to pursue cost-cutting measures across his empire, with the Mail reporting on 16 March the two parties had reached a pay-off agreement to end the deal early.
However, court records show Tottenham filed a commercial claim on 12 June after INEOS exited the sponsorship deal three years into a five-year agreement.
Spurs are seeking just over £11million, which includes £5.5million for missed payments last year, another £5.3milllion for the 2026-27 campaign, the final year of the sponsorship deal, and an additional £300,000 in interest.
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Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider it’s a “strange” situation after the parties previously appeared to have reached a settlement agreement.
In a statement on 13 June, INEOS said: “INEOS Automotive has been a partner of Tottenham Hotspur since 2022, expanding on a partnership agreement that INEOS Group had in place with the club since 2020.
“We have a contractual right to terminate our partnership contract and in December 2024 exercised that right.”
Tottenham to seek new sponsor deal
Borson revealed Tottenham are likely to agree a £5million deal as they look to find a new sponsorship.
He told Football Insider: “I think INEOS were the official vehicle partner and obviously also had the pitch side sponsorship, so that’s what they bought for £5million.
“I think £5million a year for that feels like quite a lot, but we know that’s what it was. It’s probably quite hard for Spurs to find a replacement. I think what will happen is they’ll end up settling it for a payment.
“Unless there’s some very questionable termination clause in there where there’s effectively a contractual dispute as to what the termination clause means, i.e. INEOS arguing that the clause meant that they could just give notice and pay no more money, with Spurs saying ‘Hang on a minute, you weren’t entitled to terminate early without paying out the contract’.
“So, it may be something of that nature, but I suspect they’ll settle it and Spurs will go off and try and find another automobile branding deal to replace INEOS, and they’ll take let’s say £5million and that’ll be that.
“But it is strange because it was reported that they had agreed a settlement and a sort of mutual exit from that sponsorship.”
Tottenham make contact over Antoine Semenyo deal
In terms of potential incomings, Football Insider revealed on 23 June Tottenham have made contact about a deal for Antoine Semenyo.
Bournemouth have placed a £70million asking price on the 25-year-old’s head and are confident of sealing a swift deal for a replacement if that price tag is met.
Semenyo is viewed as a good fit for Thomas Frank‘s all-action style following the Dane’s appointment as the new Tottenham boss earlier this month.