Derby County are the latest football team to announce that they’ve partnered up with Electronic Art Ltd (EA) for the new 2011/12 season in a deal similar to Manchester City’s Partnership Deal 3 weeks ago.

The deal will see EA SPORTS producing a Derby County specific game sleeve featuring it’s star players which fans will be able to download from the clubs website around the release date of FIFA 12 on 30th September.

The FIFA 12 gaming hub (which you can name and win a copy of FIFA 12) will be visiting Pride Park for selected matches over the course of the season including the Derby County vs Barnsley fixture on 27th September so fans will be able to play with their favourite team and try out FIFA 12 a couple of days before launch!

EA SPORTS will be running a Derby County Pro Player Tournament at the training ground using the new EA SPORTS FIFA gaming trailer to determine which Derby County player is the best FIFA 12 gamer.  Who do you think will be the best?  Our money’s on Theo Robinson…

Tom Glick, Chief Executive of Derby County Football Club, said:

“We are delighted and proud to announce that we will be working in partnership with EA SPORTS this season. It is an exciting opportunity for the whole Club to work alongside one of the World’s leading sports entertainment brands.”

Nick Harford, Football Business Lead at EA SPORTS said:

“We very much look forward to developing our new partnership with Derby County, where we will be investing in FIFA 12 gaming experiences for both fans and players, as well as supporting the Club’s new community initiatives.”

So, first EA partners a premiership side, now it’s partnered a Championship side…  If the trend continues we could see EA partnering a Division 1 and then a Division 2 teams next!

Which teams do you think EA will partner next?  Will it be yours???