Indian agency KWANAbler has announced a partnership with City Football Group (CFG), the ownership body of English Premier League champion Manchester City.

Through the agreement, KWANAbler said it will help to build commercial opportunities in India for CFG.

Ravi Krishnan, chairman of KWANAbler, stated: “City Football Group and its progressive strategies have had a huge impact on the evolution of club football. It has made significant investments not just in clubs and players across the world, but also in improving the overall sports infrastructure in the regions in which it operates.

“Associating with such a prominent domain leader is not only an exciting moment for KWANAbler, but also for the larger sporting ecosystem in India. We are confident that this one-of-a-kind association will generate lucrative commercial opportunities for Manchester City in India, and will also add another dimension to the country’s emerging sports landscape.”

The deal comes with CFG having been linked to acquiring a stake in Indian Super League side Mumbai City FC in recent months. Of the seven clubs currently in its portfolio, CFG is the sole owner of three – Uruguay’s Club Atlético Torque and Melbourne City of Australia, alongside Manchester City. It holds partial stakes in its other teams.

Mumbai would become CFG’s third club in Asia, after Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos and third-tier Chinese outfit Sichuan Jiuniu.

Indranil Das Blah, chief executive of KWAN Sports, added: “India is a country of 1.3 billion people who are passionate about sports, and yet its massive business potential has gone largely untapped to date.

“With the market at an inflection point, the entry of a globally-leading organisation such as City Football Group will spur the Indian sports industry onto the next phase of its evolution. We are delighted with this association and have committed KWANAbler’s extensive resources to help City Football Group capture the growing business and talent opportunity that the country represents.”