Arsenal Swaps Nike For Puma In Biggest Ever Deal
Arsenal FC has announced Puma as the new official kit partner of the Barclays Premier League leaders, ending a 20 year association with Nike, in a five-year deal thought to be worth more than £30 million a year.
Speaking at the launch at the Emirates Stadium, Puma said the deal was the biggest ever, for both itself and the football club.
The north London club had been with Nike since 1994, when the sportswear giant took over from adidas, but Puma will now officially take over from 1st July.
Cardiff City and Newcastle United are currently the only Premier League clubs to have their kit made by Puma, but the brand is steadily building its football portfolio with the likes of the Italian Football Federation and Borussia Dortmund on board, as well as individual talent including Sergio Aguero, Cesc Fabregas, Mario Balotelli, Radamel Falcao, Yaya Toure and Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla.
As well as the kit, the German firm will also make other Arsenal-branded merchandise for sale to Gunners’ fans around the world.
Bjoern Gulden, chief executive officer for Puma said: ‘Arsenal have been a key strategic target for Puma for a number of years now. Through a clear commercial vision, a well-defined sports marketing strategy and a relentless enthusiasm within the Puma organisation, we’re proud to have signed this partnership with a truly global football club.’
‘As we enter a new era in our company history, Arsenal represents a major commercial and marketing opportunity to reinforce Puma’s credibility as a global sports brand, and we have full confidence that the plans in place to activate this partnership will have a significant global impact.’
Ivan Gazidis, chief executive officer at Arsenal added: ‘We are excited to be partnering with Puma, a company whose football heritage and record of innovation have a strong affinity with our own. This represents another important step forward in Arsenal’s progression on and off the pitch.’
Puma, who also has a deal with Usain Bolt through until after Rio 2016, launched its new football boot, evoPOWER, last week.
