By Tafara Pande
Barcelona players will carry the slogan “DR Congo – Heart of Africa” on the back of their training shirts from the start of next season, following a four-year sponsorship deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) worth an estimated €44 million me
The Spanish giants announced the partnership on Wednesday, describing it as an initiative to celebrate DR Congo’s “cultural diversity and sporting tradition.” The agreement, which includes an immersive exhibition at the Camp Nou, marks the latest high-profile tourism sponsorship deal linking African nations with Europe’s elite football clubs.
According to Sports Minister Didier Budimbu, the agreement provides for a training camp in Spain for 50 young Congolese players and 10 coaches. Barcelona will also run multi-sport camps for children across basketball, handball, and roller hockey.
Club officials confirmed that the Camp Nou exhibition will seek to “bring the Congolese experience to Barcelona,” offering fans a taste of the nation’s music, art, and sporting history.
The DRC has already struck similar tourism-focused partnerships with AC Milan and AS Monaco. Budimbu has described these as part of a broader strategy to reposition the central African nation as a “leader in tourism and investment.”
The partnership follows the path blazed by Rwanda, which since 2018 has promoted “Visit Rwanda” branding on Arsenal shirts. Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich have signed comparable agreements.
