FC Barcelona have become a pioneering club after reaching an agreement with the company eFootball.Pro and KONAMI to participate in the first edition of the PES2018 League competition that will start in the next few weeks. The blaugranes will have a professional team that will compete against other European teams to be announced shortly.

About KONAMI

KONAMI Holding Group, founded in 1973, is a leading international digital entertainment company that develops content for mobiles and consoles. The company is known for games like Pro Evolution Soccer and Metal Gear, among others. Since July 2016 Konami became a Premium Partner of FC Barcelona.

About eFootball.Pro

eFootball.Pro is an eSports company, competition developer and content creator. Its goal is to provide fans with the evolution of the traditional football show. The company was founded in 2016 by Gerard Piqué and Javier Alonso is its Director. The company, based in Barcelona, ​​is made up of 50 professionals from different fields such as technology, football and eSports.

About eSports

ESports is the name used to talk about video game competitions, which in recent years have become events of great popularity all over the world. ESports has grown considerably and tournaments are capable of bringing large amounts of spectators to watch competitions in person, as well as the possibility of following them online.

Statement from the Vice President of Marketing and Communication, Manel Arroyo:

"Barça is attentive to what happens in this global and technological world, and in view of the important growth of eSports, it is opening the way to also being a leader in this field. FC Barcelona, ​​in keeping with its innovative spirit, has decided to participate in a pioneering competition in the world of eSports, by the best partners, Konami and eFootball.Pro. We are confident that this competition will continue to make members and culers from all over the world, as well as followers of eSports, proud."

Statement from the founder of eFootball.Pro, Gerard Piqué:

"As a player, I'm excited that my club has decided to enter eSports and joins this innovative project that we are preparing together with KONAMI. Barça will be able to contribute their values ​​to the competition and I am sure they will be a great rival for the rest of the teams. For our part, from eFootball.Pro, we join the Club in this new adventure in the digital world and we will guide them so that they can make their fans feel as they do with the rest of their sports."

Statement from the Director of Brand and Business Development of Konami Digital Entertaintment BV, Jonas Lygaard:

"We are extremely excited to have one of the best clubs in the world, FC Barcelona, ​​joining the league and for the first time entering the eSports market with the Pro Evolution Soccer platform. This agreement will allow us to be at another professional level and will give fans the opportunity to compete and officially represent FC Barcelona in one of the best global venues."