IP Rights Overview

1. Partnership Summary

  • Contract Designation: “Official Partner of Manchester City Football Club”
  • Official Public Designation: “Official Partner of Manchester City Football Club”
2. General ManCity Contract Duration
  • From 1 July 2023 until 11:59 PM (BST) on 30 June 2026.

3. Ambassador Contract Duration

  • From 1 July 2023 until 11:59 PM (BST) on 30 June 2026.

4. Exposure Duration

  • Etihad Stadium: Until 11:59 PM (BST) on 30 June 2026 (Premier League and Domestic Cup Home Games)
  • Digital Campaigns (Three Players): Until 11:59 PM (BST) on 30 May 2026
  • Digital Campaigns (Ambassador-only): Until 11:59 PM (BST) on 30 June 2026
  • Point-of-Purchase (POP) Campaigns:

Permitted only for products shipped out to stores before June 2023

Usage allowed until 11:59 PM (BST) on 30 June 2026

5. Partnership Territory

Global

6. Partnership Usage Rules

  • The partnership is contracted under the Midea Home Appliances brand only.
  • The usage is not extended to the full Midea Group Holding.
  • Only Midea’s OBM (Own Brand Manufacturer) Home Appliance brand is allowed to use the partnership rights.
Manchester City Logo
Midea | ManCity Joint Logo

Minimum Size

Use sparingly, when space is minimal.

To ensure legibility, the logo must never appear smaller than:

  • 30 mm in height for print assets
  • 150 px in height for digital assets

Clear Space

Just like the Midea logo, the joint logo also requires adequate breathing space.

The spacing between elements should be based on the height of the “i” in the Midea logo, ensuring consistent and harmonious distancing throughout the design.

Common Mistakes

The joint logo must not be altered and should only be used against an approved background, as indicated above.

Below is a list of common mistakes made with both the Midea and Manchester City logos.

Please follow these guidelines carefully to ensure the joint logo is always legible and presented in the best possible way.

Manchester City logo | Don'ts:

Players’ Images

Most player images for the 2025–26 season are already available in the Content Library. Images of recent signings will be uploaded by September/October 2025.

To locate them quickly and easily, simply type the player’s name + the related year in the Content Library search bar (e.g. "Haaland 2026").

Once the results will show up, you will notice two different types of image styles: "Hero" and "Attitude".

Hero Images

Hero Images are taken with neutral lighting and consistent angles, making them ideal for clean, uniform compositions.

  1. Lighting & Mood: Neutral lighting, consistent setup.

  2. Angles: All shot from the same angle with fixed camera/light positioning.

  3. Purpose: Ideal for clean, uniform compositions (e.g., placing multiple players side-by-side).

  4. Use Case: Best for structured, brand-consistent formats and straightforward layouts.

  5. Consistency: Same setup across all players.

Download

Attitude Images

Attitude shots use moodier lighting and a broader range of angles to better reflect each player’s personality and expression. These are captured in two separate stations:

Attitude 1

  1. Lighting & Mood: Moodier lighting with artistic tone.

  2. Angles: Shot handheld, from varying angles.

  3. Purpose: Captures spontaneity and emotion.

  4. Use Case: Suited for dynamic, creative layouts or social formats.

  5. Consistency: Varies by player depending on how much was captured.

 
Attitude 2

  1. Lighting & Mood: Similar to Attitude 1 but taken at a second station.

  2. Technical Note: Some shots in Attitude 2 are captured on a tripod, meaning a few of them may align more closely with Hero in terms of framing.

  3. Use Case: Still creative, but with a handful of shots potentially usable in more structured designs.

Material Expiry Rules

1. Previous Seasons

(e.g. 2023-24, 2022–23, etc.)
2. Current Season

(e.g. 2024–25)
3. Upcoming Season

(e.g. 2025–26)

  • All materials are invalid and cannot be used in any application, even if still available on the Content Library.

 

  • Materials featuring players in the 2024–25 season kit may only be used until May 31, 2025.

  • Starting from June 1, 2025, any content featuring a group composition of three players in the 2024–25 kit must be updated with the new season’s player images.

  • Any printed (e.g., POSM) or digital (e.g. Website, eCommerce) material featuring Haaland (individually) or ManCity players (in composition) wearing the 2024-25 season kit must be updated with next season assets and reintroduced to market no later than August 16, 2025.

 

  • New player materials featuring the latest kits are already available here on the Content Library and can be used until May 31, 2026.

  • Additional images will be uploaded progressively through June-July 2025, as they are released by Manchester City.

  • Any printed (e.g., POSM) or digital (e.g. Website, eCommerce) material featuring Haaland (individually) or ManCity players (in composition) wearing the 2025-26 season kit must be updated with next season assets and reintroduced to market no later than August 15, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • "Until when can I utilize the Players’ Images?"

    The 2025-26 Players’ Images can be used from May 13, 2025 until 11:59 P.M. (BST) on May 31, 2026. We strongly recommend that regional and BU teams begin using the content as early as possible to update and localize regional/local materials.

  • "I can’t find any source file in the asset’s properties. Why?"

    All Players’ Images are already provided in high-resolution .DNG format and do not require additional source files. The .DNG files can be opened and edited directly for your distribution purposes.

  • "Can I apply color correction to the images?"

    All Players’ Images have been color-corrected by ManCity and require no further adjustments to vibrance, saturation, or similar settings. However, if minor edits are needed, please ensure the final colors, especially the jersey colors, remain faithful to the original palette.

  • "Can I combine ManCity Player Images with assets from other sponsorships (e.g., AFC)?"

    Generally, mixing assets from different sponsorships (e.g., ManCity and AFC) in a single visual is not permitted. For specific inquiries, please contact Edward O’Neill (edward.oneill@midea.com).

  • "I recently printed POSM materials using last season’s images. Do I need to update them immediately?"

    Yes. All printed and distributed assets using 2024-25 kits must be updated by August 16, 2025 using the new Players’ Images available.

  • "Can I share this toolkit with external partners (e.g., agencies, exclusive distributors)?"

    Yes, the assets may be shared with external partners (e.g., agencies, exclusive distributors). However, any new localized content featuring Player Images must be submitted using the dedicated template and approved by ManCity before public use. Once approved, the content must be uploaded to the Content Library.

Expand all space

Mandatory Checklist

1. Minimum Player Requirement

Players must be featured by following the “Three Players Rule”, meaning a minimum of three players must be displayed together in the design. If Pep Guardiola (the manager) is featured, he must be included in addition to four (4) players.

2. Current Season Kit

All players must be wearing the current season’s official PUMA kit, as per the images provided in the Content Library, when promoted in communication materials. This is not an internal decision, but a contractual obligation.

3. Approved Image Sources Only

Use only the official player images provided in the Content Library, and do not use images sourced from the internet, Getty, or other unofficial platforms.

4. Player Selection

You are free to choose the most suitable players for your market. It is recommended to place your preferred player in the central position.

5. Number of Players

A single design may feature more than three players if necessary. However, the equal prominence rule must always apply — all players must appear at similar size and visibility.

6.  Logo Placement

Please ensure the joint logo is incorporated into the visual design.

7. Jersey Partner Visibility

If possible, avoid blocking the logos of other Manchester City partners on the players’ jerseys.

8.  Fan Engagement

All creative executions must be engaging for fans and reflect the excitement and values of the partnership.

9.  Authenticity

Every artwork must aim to look as authentic as possible, aligning with Manchester City’s brand identity and tone.

10.  Mandatory Approval Process

  • Each submission goes through Manchester City for review first by submitting the dedicated Excel file.
  • All marketing assets must be submitted for approval via the Content Library (HelpDesk system).
  • Please plan for a minimum of one (1) week lead time to receive consolidated feedback or approval.

 

Last update: 2025/07/11

Downloads