United signs 2-year deal with Japanese gaming firm

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United has entered into a two-year sponsorship deal with a Japanese social gaming company as the new English champion looks to capitalize on its status in the Asian country.

United commercial director Richard Arnold says the deal with gloops, a Tokyo-based developer of mobile video games, will "help the club deepen our engagement with many of our 4 million followers in Japan."

United, which clinched a 20th English league title on Monday, will visit Japan as part of its preseason tour this summer.

The Premier League giant says gloops will become its first "social gaming partner, allowing them the right to create and distribute a statistical-based battle card social game in Japan."