Everton has announced a strategic partnership with Nagoya Grampus, aiming to broaden its presence in Asia and strengthen links in international football markets. The agreement involves collaboration between the two clubs on player scouting, academy tours, youth development, and sharing expertise from Everton’s coaching and performance teams.
The clubs will also work together on community programs in both countries as part of efforts by Everton to expand commercial opportunities in Japan and throughout Asia. Tentative links already existed between the two organizations: former Everton striker Gary Lineker ended his playing career with Grampus, while Roma, which is also linked to Everton’s Friedkin Group ownership structure, has had a similar partnership in place for several years. The Friedkin Group has historical business ties with Grampus through its Toyota vehicle distribution operations; Nagoya Grampus plays at Toyota Stadium.
Angus Kinnear, chief executive officer of Everton, said: “It is a true honour for Everton to be entering into a special partnership with Nagoya Grampus. This partnership reflects Everton’s ambition to build purposeful, rewarding and long-term relationships with organisations and clubs who share our values and vision. (…) Nagoya Grampus is an organisation with a deep community focus and a clear commitment to development, and we’re excited about the opportunities this collaboration presents across football, commercial growth and social impact. We look forward to learning from each other and delivering meaningful benefits for both clubs – and our respective communities.”
The club expects the relationship will open pathways into new international markets that could support future sponsorship deals not just in Japan but beyond. The cooperation will extend across men’s and women’s teams.
This announcement follows recent developments within Everton Women’s squad management under Brian Sorensen, whose recruitment has included several players from Japan over the past year. Rion Ishikawa, Hikaru Kitagawa, Yuka Momiki have all joined during the summer alongside Honoka Hayashi who moved to Merseyside last year.
Nagoya Grampus Chairman Moritaka Yoshida commented: “We are extremely pleased to have entered into this strategic partnership with Everton, a club with a long history and a strong connection to its community. (…) Everton is actively engaged not only in football but also in sustainability and social contribution activities, values that align with Nagoya Grampus’s vision of becoming ‘the number one club in our town’. (…) Through this partnership, we aim to strengthen player development and team growth with initiatives such as data analytics systems, information exchange in scouting, and various sustainable initiatives, all of which will contribute to the growth of both clubs.”
