Man Utd rings up £36m shirt deal

Vodafone has sponsored Manchester United since 2000

English Premiership football club Manchester United said on Monday it had signed a new lucrative sponsorship deal from mobile telephone firm Vodafone.

The deal is worth £36m($62m) over four years, and extends an existing £30m four year deal that expires in May.

The soccer giants announced on Monday they have entered a new business relationship with Vodafone to roll out a wide range of club content to wireless devices around the world.

Club chief executive David Gill said: "We are delighted to continue our sponsorship with Vodafone."

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Vodafone will roll out a wide range of club content, including results, news, still and video images, ring tones and games.

Merrill Lynch analyst Andrew Burnett said the deal "represents further evidence of Manchester United exploiting its brand name and leveraging off its global fan base in order to drive media and sponsorship revenues".

The broker retains a "neutral" recommendation on the shares.

Following the announcement United shares rose 1pence, or 0.38%, to stand at 264 pence.