Premier League to drop title sponsor

The Premier League has confirmed that it will not have a title sponsor from the 2016-17 season.

Having been sponsored by Barclays since 2004, the English top flight will simply be referred to as The Premier League from next year.

Barclays paid £57m for a three-year sponsorship deal in 2004, while subsequent extensions saw the value rise to £120m for the existing three-year sponsorship in 2012.

A spokesman said: "Barclays has been an excellent partner for the League throughout their sponsorship of the competition and we look forward to working with them in 2015-16, the final season of their title sponsorship."

The Premier League did not have a sponsor in its inaugural season, with Carling the first to agree a deal for naming rights back in 1993.