Everton fans react angrily to suggestion home kit will have red on it after Angry Birds sponsorship deal

• e-mail

Everton have signed a multi-year partnership that will see them wear Angry Birds on their shirt sleeves.

The deal with Rovio Entertainment will see the Angry Birds logo debut on the left sleeve of the Everton jersey during their fixture at Old Trafford against Manchester United on Sunday. 

The 2017-18 season is the first campaign in which Premier League clubs can carry sponsorship on the arm of player shirts and the Toffees have become the latest club sign a deal.

Everton have signed a partnership that will see them wear Angry Birds on their shirt sleeves 

The deal with Rovio Entertainment will see the Angry Birds logo debut on the left sleeve

There concerns from fans the deal would lead to the red of Liverpool going on the blue shirt

There are concerns from fans that the sponsorship would lead to the 'sacrilegious' red of rivals Liverpool going on the club's famous blue shirt. The club responded by confirming the logo would just be the words 'Angry Birds' in white.

Since launching in December 2009 Angry Birds has become a worldwide phenomenon with more than 3.7billion game downloads.

In a short-animated film to launch the partnership, the lead character in the Angry Birds universe, Red, is seen signing for the Blues at the club's Finch Farm training ground. 

The animation is a nod to the player signing video craze that became a signature of the summer transfer window by football clubs all over Europe. The campaign was launched with the slogan #RedisaBlue.

Everton's chief executive Robert Elstone said: 'We're delighted that Rovio Entertainment has become Everton's first shirt sleeve partner. 

The sponsorship was announced with a 'signing video' involving main character Red

The deal with Rovio Entertainment is aimed at engaging with a younger audience

'Angry Birds is one of the best-selling game apps of all time and is also a remarkable success story in terms of the way in which the brand has crossed over from gaming to become part of popular culture. 

'Everyone here is excited about being able to work with such a creative, dynamic and ambitious brand.'

Alan McTavish, Head of Commercial at Everton, said 'Rovio Entertainment recognise the global reach that Everton can deliver through its international fanbase and the global exposure of the Premier League. 

'In return, working with Rovio and the Angry Birds brand gives Everton exposure in key international markets through their breadth of digital channels in gaming and animation, as well as a wide range of co-branded merchandise.

'The lead character in the Angry Birds universe is known as Red - and it is great to know he is now a Blue.

'We look forward to working together to deliver some innovative and exciting worldwide activations in what I'm sure will be a long and successful partnership.'