When people think of sports jobs, they think of players. But a football club or a rugby union is also a business with analysts, physios, coaches, scouts, commercial teams and groundstaff. Many of the UK's best-known clubs hold a Home Office sponsor licence, and that is why the Register of Licensed Sponsors is worth a look if you want to work in sport. This guide picks out 99 professional clubs, county cricket sides, governing bodies and motorsport teams from the register (workers and temporary workers, updated 6 November 2026) and links each one to its official website.
Reading tip: a licence shows that a club may sponsor. It does not mean it has a vacancy, and it says nothing about any one job. We left out amateur and village cricket clubs, which also appear on the register.
Two routes, two kinds of people
Look at the licence details on each card. Sports employers usually show one or both of these routes.
| Route | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| International Sportsperson | Elite players and qualified coaches. This route normally needs endorsement from the sport's governing body, so a club cannot simply choose to sponsor someone. |
| Skilled Worker | Other staff in eligible jobs, such as analysts, sports scientists, physiotherapists, finance, marketing and IT staff. The job and salary must meet the Skilled Worker rules. |
So a club that shows only International Sportsperson, such as Chelsea or Millwall on the register, is mainly set up for players and coaches. Clubs showing Skilled Worker as well can also sponsor other roles.
Football clubs in England and Wales
AFC Bournemouth
Bournemouth, DorsetLicence details
Registered as: AFC Bournemouth Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Arsenal
LondonLicence details
Registered as: Arsenal Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Senior/Specialist Worker (GBM); Skilled Worker
Aston Villa
BirminghamLicence details
Registered as: Aston Villa FC Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Barnsley
Barnsley, South YorkshireLicence details
Registered as: Barnsley Football Club Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Birmingham City
Birmingham, West MidlandsLicence details
Registered as: Birmingham City Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Senior/Specialist Worker (GBM); Skilled Worker
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn, LancashireLicence details
Registered as: The Blackburn Rovers Football & Athletic Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Blackpool
Blackpool, LancashireLicence details
Registered as: Blackpool Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Bolton Wanderers
BoltonLicence details
Registered as: FVWL Football Limited t/a Bolton Wanderers Football & Athletic Company
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Bradford City
Bradford, West YorkshireLicence details
Registered as: Bradford City Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Brentford
BrentfordLicence details
Registered as: Brentford FC Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton, East SussexLicence details
Registered as: Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Bristol City
BristolLicence details
Registered as: Bristol City Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Burnley
Burnley, LancsLicence details
Registered as: Burnley Football & Athletic Company Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Cardiff City
CardiffLicence details
Registered as: Cardiff City Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Charlton Athletic
LondonLicence details
Registered as: Charlton Athletic Football Company Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Chelsea
LondonLicence details
Registered as: Chelsea Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson
City Football Group
ManchesterLicence details
Registered as: City Football Group Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Senior/Specialist Worker (GBM); Skilled Worker
Coventry City
CoventryLicence details
Registered as: Coventry City Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Crystal Palace
LondonLicence details
Registered as: Crystal Palace Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Derby County
Derby, DerbyshireLicence details
Registered as: Derby County (the Rams) Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Everton
LiverpoolLicence details
Registered as: Everton Football Club Company Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Fulham
New Malden, SurreyLicence details
Registered as: Fulham Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Senior/Specialist Worker (GBM); Skilled Worker
Hull City
HullLicence details
Registered as: Hull City Tigers Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Senior/Specialist Worker (GBM); Skilled Worker
Ipswich Town
Ipswich, SuffolkLicence details
Registered as: Ipswich Town Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Leeds United
LeedsLicence details
Registered as: Leeds United Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Senior/Specialist Worker (GBM); Skilled Worker
Leicester City
LeicesterLicence details
Registered as: Leicester City FC
Routes: International Sportsperson; Senior/Specialist Worker (GBM); Skilled Worker
Lincoln City
Lincoln, LincolnshireLicence details
Registered as: Lincoln City Football Club Company Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Liverpool
LiverpoolLicence details
Registered as: The Liverpool Football Club and Athletic Grounds Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Luton Town
Luton, BedfordshireLicence details
Registered as: Luton Town Football Club 2020 Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Manchester City
ManchesterLicence details
Registered as: Manchester City Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Manchester United
ManchesterLicence details
Registered as: Manchester United Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Senior/Specialist Worker (GBM); Skilled Worker
Middlesbrough
DarlingtonLicence details
Registered as: Middlesbrough Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Millwall
LondonLicence details
Registered as: The Millwall Football & Athletic Company (1985) Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson
Newcastle United
Newcastle upon TyneLicence details
Registered as: Newcastle United Football Company Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Norwich City
NorwichLicence details
Registered as: Norwich City Football Club plc
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham, NottinghamshireLicence details
Registered as: Nottingham Forest Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Oxford United
Oxford, OxonLicence details
Registered as: Oxford United Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Peterborough United
Peterborough, CambridgeshireLicence details
Registered as: Peterborough United Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth, DevonLicence details
Registered as: Plymouth Argyle Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Preston North End
Preston, LancashireLicence details
Registered as: Preston North End Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson
Queens Park Rangers
LondonLicence details
Registered as: Queens Park Rangers Football & Athletic Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Reading
ReadingLicence details
Registered as: The Reading Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Sheffield United
SheffieldLicence details
Registered as: Sheffield United Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Southampton
Southampton, HampshireLicence details
Registered as: Southampton Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Senior/Specialist Worker (GBM); Skilled Worker
Stoke City
Stoke on Trent, StaffordshireLicence details
Registered as: Stoke City Football Club Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Sunderland
Sunderland, Tyne and WearLicence details
Registered as: The Sunderland Association Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Swansea City
SwanseaLicence details
Registered as: Swansea City Association Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Tottenham Hotspur
LondonLicence details
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Watford
Watford, HertfordshireLicence details
Registered as: The Watford Association Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
West Bromwich Albion
West BromwichLicence details
Registered as: West Bromwich Albion FC
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
West Ham United
LondonLicence details
Registered as: West Ham United Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Wigan Athletic
Wigan, LancashireLicence details
Registered as: Wigan Athletic AFC Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Wolverhampton Wanderers
WolverhamptonLicence details
Registered as: Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (1986) Ltd.
Routes: International Sportsperson; Senior/Specialist Worker (GBM); Skilled Worker
Wrexham
WrexhamLicence details
Registered as: Wrexham AFC Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Wycombe Wanderers
High Wycombe, BuckinghamshireLicence details
Registered as: Wycombe Wanderers Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Scottish football clubs
Aberdeen
AberdeenLicence details
Registered as: Aberdeen Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Celtic
GlasgowLicence details
Registered as: Celtic plc
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Dundee
DundeeLicence details
Registered as: The Dundee Football Club Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson
Dundee United
Dundee, AngusLicence details
Registered as: The Dundee United Football Company Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson
Hibernian
EdinburghLicence details
Registered as: Hibernian Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Senior/Specialist Worker (GBM); Skilled Worker
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock, East AyrshireLicence details
Registered as: The Kilmarnock Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson
Livingston
Livingston, West LothianLicence details
Registered as: Livingston Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson
Motherwell
Motherwell, North LanarkshireLicence details
Registered as: Motherwell Football and Athletic Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson
Rangers
GlasgowLicence details
Registered as: The Rangers Football Club Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
St Mirren
PaisleyLicence details
Registered as: The St Mirren Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson
Rugby union and rugby league clubs
Bath Rugby
BathLicence details
Registered as: Bath Rugby Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Cardiff Rugby
CardiffLicence details
Registered as: Cardiff Rugby Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Castleford Tigers
Castleford, West YorkshireLicence details
Registered as: Castleford Tigers Rlfc Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson
Exeter Chiefs
ExeterLicence details
Registered as: Exeter Rugby Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Gloucester Rugby
Gloucester, GloucestershireLicence details
Registered as: Gloucester Rugby Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson
Harlequins
Twickenham, MiddlesexLicence details
Registered as: Harlequin Football Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Hull Kingston Rovers
HullLicence details
Registered as: Hull Kingston Rovers RLFC
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Northampton Saints
NorthamptonLicence details
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Ospreys
SwanseaLicence details
Registered as: Ospreys Rugby Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Sale Sharks
CarringtonLicence details
Registered as: Manchester Sale Rugby Club Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson
Saracens
LondonLicence details
Registered as: Saracens Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
St Helens
St Helens, MerseysideLicence details
Registered as: St Helens Rugby Club Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson
Warrington Wolves
Warrington, CheshireLicence details
Registered as: Warrington Wolves Rugby League Football Club
Routes: International Sportsperson
Wigan Warriors
Wigan, LancashireLicence details
Registered as: Wigan Rugby League Club
Routes: International Sportsperson
County cricket clubs
Derbyshire
Derby, DerbyshireLicence details
Registered as: Derbyshire County Cricket Club Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson
Gloucestershire
BristolLicence details
Registered as: Gloucestershire County Cricket Club Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Lancashire
ManchesterLicence details
Registered as: Lancashire County Cricket Club Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson
Northamptonshire
Northampton, NorthamptonshireLicence details
Registered as: Northamptonshire County Cricket Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Somerset
Taunton, SomersetLicence details
Registered as: Somerset County Cricket Club Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Surrey
Kennington, LondonLicence details
Registered as: Surrey County Cricket Club Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Governing bodies
These are the organisations that run the sport. Some of them also endorse sportspeople for visas.
British Horseracing Authority
LondonLicence details
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Football Association of Wales
Hensol, Vale Of GlamorganLicence details
Registered as: Football Association of Wales Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Irish Football Association
Belfast, County AntrimLicence details
Registered as: Irish Football Association Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson
Rugby Football League
ManchesterLicence details
Registered as: The Rugby Football League Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Rugby Football Union
TwickenhamLicence details
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Scottish Football Association
GlasgowLicence details
Registered as: Scottish Football Association Ltd. (The)
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Scottish Rugby
Edinburgh, City of EdinburghLicence details
Registered as: Scottish Rugby Union Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
The Football Association
LondonLicence details
Registered as: Football Association Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
UK Athletics
Birmingham, West MidlandsLicence details
Registered as: UK Athletics Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Welsh Rugby Union
CardiffLicence details
Registered as: The Welsh Rugby Union Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson
Motorsport teams
McLaren Racing
Woking, SurreyLicence details
Registered as: McLaren Racing Limited
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Red Bull Racing
Milton KeynesLicence details
Registered as: Red Bull Racing Ltd
Routes: International Sportsperson; Senior/Specialist Worker (GBM); Skilled Worker
United Autosports
Wakefield, West YorkshireLicence details
Routes: International Sportsperson; Skilled Worker
Jobs beyond the pitch
Clubs advertise these roles on their own careers pages. Look for them rather than only player jobs.
- Performance and data analysts
- Sports scientists, physios and doctors
- Academy and youth coaches
- Marketing, ticketing and commercial staff
- Stadium, events and hospitality managers
Quick answers
Can any club sponsor a footballer?
Only if the player meets the governing body's rules. The club needs a licence and an endorsement. Check the sport's governing body for the current requirements.
Do these clubs hire for non-playing jobs from abroad?
Some do, if the job is eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship. Always read the advert.
Is the register the final word?
No. Licences can be changed or withdrawn. Check the official GOV.UK page "Register of licensed sponsors: workers" before you act.
General information only. This is not legal or immigration advice.
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