ESPN secures UEFA Europa League rights

ESPN has secured a three-year TV rights deal to broadcast matches from the UEFA Europa League.

Starting on September 17, ESPN will show Europa League games on Wednesday and Thursday nights every week throughout the next three seasons.

In the race to the 2009/10 final next May in Hamburg, Germany, ESPN will show action from the campaigns of home sides Celtic, Everton and Fulham, as well as top European clubs such as Roma, Valencia and holders Shakhtar Donetsk.

All matches will be shown on the new ESPN channel, which was recently launched in standard and high definition on Sky and Virgin Media, and in SD on Top Up TV, BT Vision and Tiscali.

ESPN EMEA vice president Jeroen Oerlemans said: "We're delighted to be able to broadcast the UEFA Europa League from this season and are looking forward to having some of the best clubs in Europe competing against each other on ESPN.

"This year we look forward to following Everton, Fulham and Celtic. This deal shows that we continue to build a fantastic offering of local and international sport for fans around the UK."

A UEFA spokesperson said: "We are delighted to have signed this deal with ESPN in respect of the UEFA Europa League rights in the United Kingdom.

"ESPN's new sports channel complements the launch of this exciting competition and will provide UK football fans with additional top quality live football."