Chelsea Football Club has signed a four-year agreement with The Walt Disney Company to become the official professional soccer club of the Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Chelsea will also have significant presence at Disney’s other created football events through coaching and player clinics, which will be run under the guidance of Chelsea’s Football in the Community scheme.

An annual educational exchange programme will also be implemented with at least one Chelsea Soccer Academy team and a winning team from a selected Disney football tournament.

Paul Smith, Chelsea’s business affairs director, said: “Chelsea is committed and promoting all levels of soccer in the United States and youth soccer is a massive part of that.”

Mike Millay, director of sports at Walt Disney World, said: “We look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with Chelsea. Their involvement with our events will provide a phenomenal guest experience for the thousands of young soccer players through interaction with one of the leading soccer academies in the world.”

The announcement is the first stage in a possible broader partnership between the two companies and further talks are planned to see how Chelsea can work with the various entertainment and media brands within Disney.