For better and for worse until 2038… FC Barcelona, in the midst of a revival on the Spanish and European pitches, has just signed a historic contract extension with Nike, which has equipped the Blaugrana since 1998.
Despite the economic situation and the difficulties (the drop in sales recently led to a change of direction), the American company could not bear the idea that its German competitor Puma (which notably equips Manchester City) could affix its logo on Catalan outfits.
The Oregon firm therefore took out the checkbook to continue its collaboration with the Spanish club. According to the Iberian press, the partnership could reach 1.7 billion euros by its end in fourteen years. According to Mundo Deportivo, it is divided into two parts: first from 2024 to 2028 (date on which the previous contract was to expire), then over the period 2028-2038. A signing bonus of 158 million euros would have been concluded.
“Barcelona and Nike, two leading brands in the sports industry, are pleased to announce a new beginning with a multi-year partnership agreement, effective from this season,” Barça wrote in a statement. The Spanish club attempted to terminate its previous contract with Nike at the start of the year, but was prevented from doing so in July by a Spanish court specializing in commercial law.
This new agreement, of a scope comparable to that which links Real Madrid to Adidas (120 million euros per year), represents a real breath of fresh air for Barça which has been struggling financially for several seasons. In 2022, Barça sold 25% of its TV rights for the next 25 years to the American investment fund Sixth Street.
