Nike are believed to be close to announcing two incredible kit deals. In the coming weeks, the American sportswear giant is expected to extend their existing contract with Barcelona and to add Chelsea to their football portfolio.
The Catalan media outlet, El Diario Ara, has reported that Nike has agreed the terms of a ten-year deal with Blaugrana worth €100m per season. That’s right: €1 billion over the course of the contract. It will catapult the club to the top of every rich list in world football and with that kind of money, means that there is no rush to find a new shirt sponsor following the end of their deal with Qatar.
Despite this, the collective wealth of the Premier League clubs still dwarfs their Spanish counterparts. Just days after their 2016/17 home kit was launched, Chelsea announced that they were parting company with Adidas. The deal was terminated early and by mutual consent. Even after paying the German company £40m, Chelsea will still be £20m ahead of the game if reports in the Daily Mail are correct.
It puts them second to Manchester United’s £75m per season Adidas deal but is double the £30m Puma are paying Arsenal. Recent concerns over the club’s adherence to UEFA FFP regulations have been allayed and their finances will receive a considerable boost as they look to make up the ground they lost on the top four in this season’s Premier League.
