Nissan Motor Co signs as first global sponsor of Man City, sister clubs in NY and Melbourne

Premier League champion Manchester City has signed Nissan Motor Co. as the first global sponsor of its portfolio of clubs.

The five-year deal with Nissan was announced on Thursday, two months after City bought a stake in Japanese team Yokohama F Marinos from the car giant.

Man City, which has been rapidly remodeled on and off the pitch since being bought by Sheikh Mansour in 2008, turned its focus to building a network of teams through its Abu Dhabi backing.

A Major League Soccer expansion team, New York City FC, has been formed with the NY Yankees which has a minority stake, and City recently bought Australian side Melbourne Heart, which has subsequently been renamed Melbourne City.