Barcelona announce ‘record £1.4BILLION’ 14-year deal with Nike – six months after club president Joan Laporta publicly threatened to end their long-term partnership

Barcelona have announced a new multi-year partnership with global brand Nike. 

Nike have supplied kits for the Catalan giants since 1998, nearly a decade before Barca’s famous maroon and blue shirts even included a main sponsor for the first time.

The deal between the two sides have been updated several times since then, and the previous one was due to expire in June 2028.

Earlier this year it was reported that Barcelona were prepared to move on from Nike and sought several other options. 

Club president Joan Laporta was said to keen to end the partnership having described the previous agreement as ‘less than ideal’.

The new deal will reportedly be the highest paid sponsorship contract in football worth £1.4b

Laporta earlier this season confirmed the terms of the deal had been improved, stating ‘when it’s signed,’ it would be ‘the best contract in football.’ 

However, Nike have made a number of compromises  to keep the relationship intact  as reported by Mundo Deportivo. 

It’s reported that the new deal will be the highest paid sponsorship contract in football worth £1.4billion ($1.82 billion) over 14 years – £105m ($136m) a year. 

The contract also includes a £131m signing bonus for Barca, which will be paid over the duration of the lengthy deal. 

The Spanish club have stated the new deal ‘consolidates Nike as a main partner of the club and official technical partner across all professional and amateur teams, bringing a unique model that strengthens the brands association and fuels the global retail and licensing business growth.’ 

Barca added that, alongside Nike, ‘they have shared a deep commitment to innovation, creativity, and the pursuit of excellence, both on and off the pitch and experience extraordinary football in four different decades’. 

Club president Joan Laporta threatened to end the partnership with Nike earlier this year 

The American sportswear giant has been Barca’s kit manufacturer since the 1998-99 season

Barca have won LaLiga 12 times and the Champions League on four occasions since their first deal with Nike in 1998. 

The new deal comes at an ideal time for the Catalans amid their financial difficulties in recent years.