New Premier League rule change impacting Man Utd and Man City’s rivals Leeds, Newcastle and West Ham hailed

A Manchester MP has applauded the Premier League after a major change to betting sponsorship that will affect eight current top-flight clubs in the near future.

Premier League clubs have agreed that by the end of the 2025/26 season, there will be no gambling sponsorship on the front of shirts.

MP for Manchester Central, Lucy Powell is a lifelong Manchester City fan and praised the "small but welcome step" from the league after the news was confirmed on Thursday.

Ms Powell said: "This is a small but welcome step. It's been a long time coming, and is still coming ahead of the very long-overdue gambling white paper, which the government keeps kicking into the long grass."

The Premier League announcement comes after consultation between the league, clubs and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Ms Powell, whose constituency includes the Etihad Stadium, is also Shadow Secretary of State for the DCMS and regularly speaks about matters affecting Manchester City.

The MP previously slammed the 'disastrous' Super League proposals and earlier this year gave a passionate speech in parliament calling for an independent football regulator.

Speaking after the Premier League's sponsorship announcement on Thursday, Secretary of State for DCMS, Lucy Frazer said: "The vast majority of adults gamble safely but we have to recognise that footballers are role models who have an enormous influence on young people.

"We want to work with institutions like the Premier League to do the right thing for young fans. We will soon bring forward a gambling white paper to update protections for punters and ensure those who are at risk of gambling harm and addiction are protected."

Even after the 2026 deadline, Premier League clubs will still be able to feature gambling brands in areas such as shirt sleeves and on LED boards in stadiums with campaign groups calling for the Premier League to introduce stricter measures.

Manchester City's front-of-shirt sponsor is currently Etihad Airways whilst Manchester United advertise TeamViewer.

The eight Premier League clubs that currently do have betting firms on the front of shirts are:

• Bournemouth - Dafabet
• Brentford - Hollywoodbets
• Everton - Stake
• Fulham - W88
• Leeds - SBOTOP
• Newcastle - Fun88
• Southampton - Sportsbet
• West Ham - Betway