Man City’s Yaya Toure Signs With Puma

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has signed with Puma, joining the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Radamel Falcão and his City teammate Sergio Aguero on the company’s books.

The new partnership, though, is somewhat different to those others. Puma’s commitment to the partnership is to provide Toure with large product allocations each year, all of which will be distributed to underprivileged children in West Africa. The Ivory Coast international has a strong personal interest in projects that give children the opportunity and encouragement to play football in his homeland, and which will now benefit from multiple donations of Puma football apparel, boots and equipment.  

The first major delivery of product will be ahead of the 2012 African Cup of Nations in January. 

Toure said: ‘I am very excited about this new partnership with Puma and the work we will be able to do together to give children in Africa the chance to play football. I have chosen to partner with Puma because of the strong ties the brand has in Africa, they are the best company to help me provide these projects with football equipment. In underprivileged areas of Africa, football is a way for children to enjoy themselves and be healthy. For some it is also a way to a better life as it was for me.  I am very happy to be working with Puma on this.’

The deal with Toure was announced within hours of the launch of Puma’s new deal with Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund. Effective from 1st July 2012, the deal will see Puma provide official playing kits for all Borussia Dortmund teams, including the senior mens and all youth teams, as well as becoming the club’s official partner in relation to replica kits, fanwear and other merchandise.

Hans-Joachim Watzke, Borussia Dortmund club president, said: ‘Borussia Dortmund is thrilled to enter this new partnership with Puma. We share a great synergy with Puma, we both have brand values that extend beyond simply performance on the pitch, and our work together in coming seasons will reflect this. From our very early conversations with Puma it was abundantly clear that they wished to make Borussia Dortmund fans integral to the brand’s football campaigns in Germany, to value them as we do. This marketing focus was a key reason for us signing a partnership with Puma, and we are excited about the prospect of implementing these plans for the 2012/13 season and beyond.’