London, Nov 14 (ANI): Armani has signed a 20 million pounds deal with football star David Beckham for three years, to become the new global ambassador for their fashion house.

Beckham, 32, will front a new underwear campaign in a series of billboard and fashion magazine adverts from the start of next year and will be receiving an annual fee plus royalties.

The three-year deal is unprecedented for any sportsman and will cement his status as the world's best-paid footballer, reports the Daily Mail. This is Beckham's first formal clothing contract and part of an overall strategy by his management company 19 Entertainment to maximise his earnings during the final few years of his playing career.

The campaign for the "Emporio SS08Πunderwear range is thought to have been sanctioned by Giorgio Armani, who has become friends with Beckham and his wife, Victoria, dining with them several times since their move to California.

A source close to the deal said: "The personal relationship was definitely instrumental in this deal. David and Giorgio get on very well so it was very much Giorgio's personal choice. But Armani also see this as a sound business decision - few individuals have a truly global reach that can match David's."

The Armani deal came about after the former England captain's contracts with Vodafone and Gillette both came to an end this year.

Beckham's underwear deal comes after his wife linked up with US lingerie chain Victoria's Secret as part of the Spice Girls comeback.

A spokeswoman for Giorgio Armani said: "I can confirm David Beckham will be appearing in the Emporio Armani SS08 underwear campaign."