Manchester United have clinched a lucrative sponsorship arrangement with Hublot, the Swiss watch manufacturer. The multi-million pound deal will run for three years.

"We are delighted to welcome such a prestigious partner as Hublot to the Manchester United family," said David Gill, the United chief executive. "Their reputation for excellence and innovation makes them a fitting and exciting sponsor for the club. Sir Alex [Ferguson] is known as a stickler for timekeeping, both on and off the pitch; now we have a partner that shares his passion."

While Premier League rivals West Ham are without a shirt sponsor following the collapse of their sponsorship deal with XL Airways, United's ability to ride the current financial storm - they recently announced similar deals with Saudi Telecom, Seoul Metropolitan Government and Budweiser - underlines their continuing commercial strength.