Borussia Dortmund have announced a partnership agreement with German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall ahead of their UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid CF.

The three-year deal includes “wide-reaching advertising space, marketing rights and event and hospitality arrangements in the stadium and on the club grounds” starting with the UCL final, with Dortmund also set to sport the Rheinmetall logo.

The partnership sees Dortmund acknowledge the “social significance of security and defence”.

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Hans-Joachim Watzke, Chairman of Borussia Dortmund, said:

“Security and defence are fundamental cornerstones of our democracy. That is why we believe it is the right decision to take a very close look at how we protect these cornerstones. Especially today, when we see every day how freedom must be defended in Europe. We should deal with this new normality. We are looking forward to the partnership with Rheinmetall and, as Borussia Dortmund, are consciously opening ourselves up to a dialogue.“

Armin Papperger, Chief Executive Officer of Rheinmetall AG, commented:

“This move will bring together BVB and Rheinmetall, two partners with similar ambitions, attitudes and origins. BVB is a club from the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia and, more than nearly anyone else, it represents the pursuit of excellence and international success. Rheinmetall has deep roots in the metropolitan Rhine-Ruhr region and wishes for its brand to be better known internationally too as a leading systems supplier for the defence industry and as a driver of industrial innovations on civilian markets.“