From transfer fees and player wages to TV deals and sponsorship agreements, nearly every financial aspect of football has been on the rise in the past decade. Leading this unprecedented economic surge are Premier League clubs.
English sides have been at the top of the charts for years, splashing out insane figures in the market, largely thanks to their lucrative sponsorship agreements and TV rights. Kit manufacturers have also reaped the benefits, forging high-profile partnerships with Premier League clubs. These deals enhance the teams’ financial muscle, but more importantly, they also play a significant role in the global marketing and branding of both the clubs and the manufacturers themselves.
Despite their long-standing domestic struggles, Manchester United’s blockbuster partnership with Adidas trumps all other Premier League kit deals by some margin. Let’s look at the three most expensive kit deals at England’s top table.
3. Liverpool & Nike
Liverpool and Nike struck a five-year deal in 2020 for the United States sportswear giant to manufacture the Reds’ kits after the club moved away from New Balance. That deal pours £60 million a year into the Merseyside powerhouse’s coffers but will continue to do so for only one more year, with the Anfield outfit switching to Adidas in 2025. Despite Liverpool’s on-field success under Jurgen Klopp’s regime and worldwide appeal, the Reds are still lagging behind arch-rivals Man United.
2. Manchester City & Puma
The only mega-money deal in the Premier League that doesn’t include Adidas or Nike came into effect in 2019 when Manchester City signed a ten-year contract with Puma. City’s deal with the German manufacturer beats Liverpool’s agreement with Nike by only £5 million per year, with the Cityzens taking home £65 million a year for their kit sponsorship. Given the club’s outstanding success under Pep Guardiola, it would be no surprise if the record four-time consecutive Premier League champions discuss a more favorable deal with Puma in the near future.
1. Manchester United & Adidas
On the pitch, it’s mostly been doom and gloom for Man United since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, but the Red Devils continue to thrive behind the scenes. Last summer, the 20-time English champions penned a ten-year extension with Adidas, who entered the Old Trafford headquarters in 2015 after lurking in Nike’s shadow for 23 years. United’s barren run in the post-Ferguson era hasn’t deterred Adidas from handing the Red Devils a mind-blowing £90 million-a-year contract, shattering the previous record of £75 million, incidentally signed by these two parties.
These lucrative kit deals not only bolster the financial stability of the clubs but also enhance their global brand presence, showcasing the symbiotic relationship between sports teams and their sponsors.
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