Oxford United has partnered with a pizza company in a deal which will see the firm become the official sleeve sponsor of the men's team.

Caprinos Pizza, a chain founded in Oxfordshire, will sponsor the team for the 2024/25 season.

The pizza company's director and co-founder, Khalil Rehman, who is from Bicester, said: "We are delighted to announce our partnership with Oxford United, a team that represents the heart and spirit of Oxfordshire.

"This partnership is particularly special to us as it brings Caprinos Pizza back to its birthplace.

"We are excited to support our local community and look forward to sharing our passion for quality pizza with the loyal fans of Oxford United.”

Established in 2014, Caprinos Pizza has expanded to now have 99 stores across the UK, Ireland and Pakistan.

In 2021, it opened its 40th branch, in Northcourt, Abingdon, having started with a store in Broadway, Didcot.

Oxford United's chief commercial and marketing officer, Adam Benson, said: "We’d like to welcome Khalil, Gul and the Caprinos Pizza business as they join the club’s partnership portfolio.

"This isn’t just a collaboration, it's a testament to the strength of local businesses working together.

"We are delighted Caprinos Pizza have given us the opportunity to support their growth plans and we’re excited to work together over the course of the season.”

Gul Nawaz, also a director and co-founder of Caprinos Pizza, added: "Partnering up with Oxford United is a significant milestone for Caprinos Pizza.

"Given that our brand was established in Oxfordshire, this partnership feels like a homecoming.

"We are eager to engage with the local community and it's an honour to support the team and its incredible fan base.”

Caprinos Pizza has been a success story since it opened its first Oxfordshire store a decade ago.

Mr Rehman said it was his and Mr Nawaz's love of pizza that spurred the pair on to start the chain.

The pizza takeaway service quickly became extremely popular within Didcot, causing the owners to branch out to other towns across the South East.

Within a year of opening their first shop, the owners decided to branch out to Aylesbury, and within the business's first four years, it had opened seven more stores.

These were in Headington and Cowley Road in Oxford, and in Faringdon, Banbury, Andover, Stoke and Newbury.

Mr Rehman said he puts the success down to a winning recipe of great customer service, good quality pizza at reasonable prices, as well as a strong following.