Hays, the UK’s largest recruitment firm, has signed a three-year partnership agreement with New York City Football Club (NYCFC), which is co-owned by Manchester City Football Club and baseball team the New York Yankees, reports Bloomberg. The London-based company will become the Major League Soccer (MLS) team’s official recruitment partner, and will help the club secure off-field talent.

Tim Pernetti, NYCFC’s Chief Business Officer, said the team’s business staff is about half-filled and that another eight-to-10 “high-level” executives will be added: “This is more than a sponsorship. It’s a partnership. We will utilise their expertise to find the right people and execute the right way.”

As part of the agreement Hays will use the team’s crest and player imagery in digital and social media platforms.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed by either the company or team, which is part-owned by the New York Yankees. Hays is already the official recruitment partner of Manchester City Football Club.

Sholto Douglas-Home, Chief Marketing Officer at Hays, said: “They need to grow fast. It’s a natural extension to link with our own ambition in the States. There are great parallels with us wanting to grow faster with New York as our base. Clearly, the MLS is hot news at the moment.”

Hays will also receive game-day advertising at Yankee Stadium, where the team will play until it finds a permanent home. The club’s players include David Villa, the Spanish national team’s all-time leading scorer, and former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, who signed last week.