The commercial partnership between Milan and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has definitively come to an end. Confirmation comes from the Rossoneri’s consolidated financial statements as of 30 June 2026, consulted by Calcio e Finanza, which retrace the stages of a collaboration marked by tensions, missed payments and legal disputes.
After the initial breakdown in January 2025 and an attempt to revive the agreement through a new deal signed in May of the same year, the club decided to terminate the second contract as well. According to the financial report, the decision was based on the other party’s failure to meet its payment obligations.
Furthermore, the matter has not yet been resolved legally: Milan has confirmed that the arbitration proceedings before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), initiated to obtain compensation for damages arising from the dispute, are continuing, as relayed via Milan Press.
Milan-Congo: From sponsorship to the first breakdown in 2025
The first details of the partnership had emerged more than two years ago, when the possibility of promoting the Democratic Republic of the Congo through Milan’s shirt was discussed, with the name of the African country set to appear on the back of the playing kit. The initiative formed part of a broader commercial project aimed at promoting the country as a tourist destination.
The initial agreement provided for the granting of a package of commercial rights to the Congolese government, including space on the Rossoneri shirt, in exchange for a fee to be paid in advance in a single instalment.
The failure to make the payment, however, jeopardised the relationship. On 31 January 2025, Milan therefore terminated the first sponsorship contract, simultaneously initiating arbitration proceedings to seek compensation for the damages caused by the termination of the agreement.
Second contract in May 2025: The attempt to revive the agreement
Following the initial breakdown, the parties had attempted to resolve the dispute. In May 2025, a new agreement was reached, providing for the payment of a fee to Milan and the temporary suspension of the arbitration proceedings already initiated.
At the same time, the club had signed a second three-year sponsorship contract with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The new agreement provided for a package of commercial rights and services that differed from those established in the first deal, with the aim of ensuring continuity in the collaboration.
The attempt did not produce the hoped-for results. As revealed by the financial statements as of 30 June 2026, the second contract was also terminated due to the other party’s failure to fulfil its obligations.
Milan: Arbitration proceedings for compensation continue
In its financial report, the Rossoneri club outlined the development of the dispute, confirming that it had also terminated the second agreement because the Democratic Republic of the Congo had failed to meet its payment obligations.
The legal proceedings therefore remain ongoing. The case before the London Court of International Arbitration continues with the aim of obtaining compensation for the damages suffered by Milan in connection with the dispute.
The partnership, which began with the ambition of bringing football and international tourism promotion together, thus comes to an end after two agreements and two breakdowns. For the Rossoneri club, the priority is now to protect its economic interests and recover what it is owed through the ongoing legal proceedings.
