Everton have announced Angry Birds as their first-ever shirt sleeve partner.
The logo of the video game franchise will adorn the Blues’ shirts for the first time in Sunday’s trip to Manchester United as part of the new partnership.
A multi-year deal with Rovio Entertainment, the game’s parent company, was launched with an animated film featuring Angry Birds lead character Red.
The animated short shows Red at Everton’s Finch Farm base in a nod to the video craze of the summer transfer window by clubs across Europe.
Since launching in December 2009, Angry Birds has become a worldwide phenomenon with more than 3.7 billion game downloads.
The partnership with Rovio, a Finnish-based company, will open a range of marketing opportunities to new global audiences for both parties.
Everton’s chief executive Robert Elstone said: “We’re delighted that Rovio Entertainment has become Everton’s first shirt sleeve partner.
“Angry Birds is one of the best-selling game apps of all time and is also a remarkable success story in terms of the way in which the brand has crossed over from gaming to become part of popular culture.
“Everyone here is excited about being able to work with such a creative, dynamic and ambitious brand.”
Ville Heijari, CMO of games at Rovio Entertainment added: “In Everton, we have found a partner who shares our values of putting the fans first, and creating a long-lasting legacy for our community of players.
“This is Rovio’s first partnership in the most watched sports league in the world, and a logical continuation of our global Angry Birds brand partnerships.”
Details of how fans can add the Angry Birds logo to the shirt sleeve of 2017/18 replica match shirt are available at evertonfc.com/sleeveFAQ