Liverpool Announce Deal With Nike

Liverpool announced a multi-year kit deal with Nike on Tuesday as the European champions seek to capitalise on their on-field success by boosting global commercial revenues.

The US sportswear giant will supply playing, training and travel wear to the Premier League leaders from the 2020/21 season after the club won a court battle with current suppliers New Balance in October.

The Reds look likely to be crowned champions of England for the first time in 30 years this season – they currently have a 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

According to a report in The Athletic in October, Liverpool hope to bank up to £70 million ($92 million) a year in total under the bumper deal.

But it differs from most major kit contracts signed by Europe’s elite clubs because it involves lower guaranteed fees and higher commissions.

Liverpool will reportedly earn a flat fee of £30 million a year from Nike, which is below the £40 million New Balance are thought to pay per season and less than half of the £75 million deal Premier League’s rivals Manchester United signed with Adidas in 2014.

However, Liverpool will also earn royalties of 20 percent on all net sales of merchandise other than footwear, plus bonuses for winning the Champions League and Premier League.

“We welcome Nike into the LFC family as our new official kit supplier and expect them to be an incredible partner for the club, both at home 0and globally as we continue to expand our fan base,” said Liverpool managing director and chief commercial officer Billy Hogan.

Bert Hoyt, vice-president and general manager of Nike Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “Liverpool Football Club has such a proud heritage and strong identity.

“The partnership with Liverpool FC underscores our leadership in global football and with the club’s passionate worldwide fan base and strong legacy of success – they have a very bright future ahead.”

The deal still lags a long way behind the biggest kit deals in football enjoyed by Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, with La Liga champions Barca earning at least 150 million euros a season from Nike.