Blues hope to score with more Japanese fans

MANCHESTER City FC has signed a partnership deal to develop an official  mobile website in Japan.

City said the eal is the first of its kind targeted specifically at its fan base in East Asia.

Under the partnership, MLJ Inc have exclusive rights to develop City’s official Japanese mobile website for non-smartphone handheld mobile devices until May 2014.

The website will host daily news content and downloadable team photography, as well as giving City’s Japanese fans easy access to official MCFC merchandise, memorabilia and match-day  tickets.

Ian Cafferky, chief brand and commercial officer at City, said: “We’re extremely excited to be entering into the Asia market with partners MLJ Inc, who already help some of the biggest names in world football reach out to a host of new fans, from across Japan.

“This deal marks another chapter in the Club’s digital strategy to engage with our international fan base, bringing supporters as close as possible to the match-day experience, through greater interaction online and on mobile.”

Teruhisa Abe, CEO of MLJ Inc, said: “We are extremely happy to enter into a partnership with Manchester City Football Club who are not only extremely ambitious, but also play in the most competitive professional football league in the world.

“Through this new service, Japanese supporters will be able to experience the club’s success, closer than ever before.”