According to a report by the "Financial Times", Nike is expected to pay more than 40 million euros for the rights, roughly double what Adidas currently pays. Adidas confirmed the loss of the contract following the conclusion of the 2026/27 season. "We are proud to have created the most iconic series of footballs of all time," a spokesperson said. He noted that Adidas will continue to supply balls for all FIFA competitions, the European Championship, the Women's Champions League, and the German Bundesliga. While the Bundesliga currently uses balls from the mid-sized manufacturer Derbystar, Adidas is set to return as the official supplier next season after an eight-year hiatus.
The Champions League contract, negotiated for the first time by the marketing agency Relevent on behalf of UEFA and the clubs, also includes the match balls for the Europa League and the Conference League. The rights for these two secondary competitions were previously held by the sporting goods retailer Decathlon.
Two years ago, Nike had already snatched the kit sponsorship deal for the German Football Association (DFB) away from Adidas. Starting in 2027, German national teams will wear Nike jerseys and shorts. In that instance as well, the American firm outbid the long-standing incumbent Adidas with a high-stakes offer, reportedly exceeding 100 million euros.
(Reporting by Alexander Huebner and Helen Reid; editing by Ralf Banser. For inquiries, please contact our editorial office at berlin.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for politics and economics) or frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for companies and markets).)
