Barclays will become the first ever title sponsor of the Women's Super League, in a history-making deal that's been called the "biggest ever investment by a brand in UK women's sport".

The three-year partnership, which is understood to be worth in excess of £10 million, will start from next season and has the potential to elevate women's football to never-before-seen levels.

The competition will be rebranded as the Barclays FA Women's Super League and as part of the deal, there will be a prize money pot of £500,000 for the first time ever. Previously, winners of the WSL had not received any prize money.

The FA's director of women's football, Kelly Simmons, said:

"We obviously want to get more fans and more revenue behind the game, making sure it's secure and sustainable for the future.

But also the investment in schools makes sure lots of girls get the chance to play football, which is our pipeline for the future."

https://twitter.com/FAWSL/status/1107639793490509824

It's a big year for women's football in this country. This news comes just weeks after England claimed victory in the She Believes Cup, and months before the 2019 World Cup in France.

A good showing from England in that tournament will breed a new generation of female players and fans, and a significant sponsorship like this one will cement the future of the women's game far into the future.

In related news, check out the England team's kit with Nike for the upcoming World Cup – the first time the women's team have been given a kit that's exclusive to them.