Vodafone signs Beckham for £6m

HIS family-man image has been tarnished by allegations of an affair, and he was off form during Euro 2004. But England captain David Beckham's image is still worth millions.

Mobile phones firm Vodafone announced it has signed him up for a new one-year deal. Sources close to the Real Madrid mid-fielder revealed the contract was worth £6m.

Vodafone will be able to use Beckham, 29, in a series of adverts worldwide. The company is also introducing a Beckham 'content suite' on its live internet service.

The deal will see Beckham advertising the company's foray into '3G', or third generation phones, which will have video messaging and high-speed internet access. They will also include a new Beckham football game. The firm is hoping he can help improve sales in Japan.

Vodafone re-signed Beckham after his two-year, £4m deal ended in May. When the contract was not immediately renewed it was thought the company was having second thoughts about the footballer, who was rocked by allegations of an affair with his former personal assistant Rebecca Loos.

Recently Beckham's £2m contract for a boys' clothing range for Marks & Spencer was not renewed.

A Vodafone spokesman said: 'We are very happy to have signed a new deal with David, which builds on the success of our partnership.'

A source close to Beckham said: 'David wants to focus on five or six global partners. As well as Vodafone, they are Pepsi, Gillette, adidas and Police. He wants to reduce his local advertising commitments to give him more time to concentrate on his football.'

Earlier this week Beckham admitted for the first time that allegations about his love life had affected his form. Meanwhile Victoria Beckham, 30, is continuing with her music career while her husband plans to open a string of football academies.

Last year Beckham earned an estimated £20m - mostly through sponsorship deals - making him the world's richest footballer. The star, who with his wife is believed to be worth £65m, earns £5m a year from Real Madrid.