Barclays have agreed to sponsor the Premier League until 2010 in a deal worth £65.8million, nearly £9million more than their previous three-year contract.

The new deal runs from the 2007/08 campaign through to the 2009/10 season, while the last contract for the same time period was worth £57million.

It is understood the popularity of the Premiership in the Far East was a big factor in the bank renewing their contract, and the deal also includes sponsorship of the official pre-season tournament, the Premier League Asia Trophy.

Before Barclays sponsored the league in 2004, Barclaycard, the credit card arm of the group, was sponsor for three years.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "This latest deal will make Barclays Group our longest serving title sponsor.

"In that time, the Premier League has continued to grow and develop both domestically and internationally, which has matched Barclays own business plan
and aspirations."

The contract is thought to be one of the biggest sponsorship deals in football.

Barclays president Bob Diamond added: "I see the sponsorship of the world's best football league as a major strategic investment.

"This sponsorship also fits our international presence and aspirations, particularly in Asia and continental Europe."