Nike signs mega kit deal with FC Barcelona

In the world of sports where everything is bigger, faster and further, even deals between clubs and sponsors go beyond and break records. This certainly applies to the latest deal that sportswear giant Nike struck with FC Barcelona: The latter have agreed to an extension of their kit-manufacturing deal with Nike and will pocket a cool 112 million US dollars (70million pounds). Per year. For the next decade.

Although the exact financial details have yet to be revealed, the Spanish media already termed this “the most lucrative arrangement of its kind in the world“ and speculated that the deal could be worth up to 175 million US dollars (120 million pounds). It will certainly top Manchester United's deal with Adidas, which, at 109 million US dollars (75 million pounds) a year, has already been termed a megadeal.

Barcelona signs most lucrative deal in the world with Nike

As part of the current agreement, which was set to run until the summer of 2018, the Catalan club that has been with Nike since 1998, earned 37 million US dollars a year. The new deal will give the La Liga champions a major financial boost.

“FC Barcelona and Nike, Inc have extended their current sponsorship deal, which was due to end on 30 June, 2018,” Barcelona said on Saturday. “The long-term agreement is a landmark in global football and builds upon a highly successful partnership.“

The club’s president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, stressed the importance of the new deal: “We are excited by this new agreement and are confident we will be able to celebrate continued sporting successes together. Through this new agreement with Nike, we are extending a strategic alliance for the club, while also reinforcing our global position, hand in hand with the leading global sports brand.”

And while football clubs are battling it out on the field, sporting giants like Nike and Adidas are continuing their fight for the world's best clubs. Already, Nike is tipped to win Adidas' current deal with Chelsea. Exciting times are ahead.

Image: FC Barcelona official online store