Liverpool could end Nike kit partnership with Adidas 'poised' to take over

Liverpool have been linked with a kit manufacturer switch from the 2025/26 season - with Nike being potentially replaced.

The Reds have partnered with the US sporting apparel giant since 2020. It was a deal that was agreed after a High Court battle ensued between Liverpool and former kit suppliers New Balance to extricate the club from a clause that would have seen an extension to that agreement.

The current deal with Nike is set to run until the end of next season. The Reds have been engaged with other potential partners, as well as Nike, over what happens from 2025 onwards.

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And according to SportBusiness, Liverpool are "poised" to move to Adidas from 2025, with a five-year deal reportedly agreed. It is a switch that would take the club back to the German kit manufacturer for the first time since 2012. SportBusiness also reports that Puma were in the running for the contract

The potential deal has not been confirmed by the Reds, who will not be commenting on speculation, but it was confirmed to the ECHO that early next year the kit supplier renewal process would reach its conclusion and fans would be informed.

Next week is expected to see the kit launch for the 2024/25 season with Nike, with the partnership, which has been lauded as being a successful one by club chiefs, having seen collaborations with Converse and Fenway Sports Group part owner and basketball icon LeBron James.

The current Nike deal is understood to have been worth a £30m flat fee to Liverpool, but with a healthy percentage coming to the Reds from the sale of Nike/Liverpool branded merchandise. That was thought to push the deal closer to £60m per season.

The move to Nike was born from a desire to better service demand to Liverpool’s global fanbase of millions through the improved direct-to-consumer offering that Nike had. As one of the world’s biggest sporting manufacturers, Adidas would have similar clout.

Adidas have a major 10-year deal in place with Manchester United that is worth £90m per year. SportsBusiness claims that any new deal would beat the existing Nike offering, but would fall short of the deal in place with United.

United’s deal is fixed, with the potential that £90m deal that would seem like a good sum now might not be as strong in the market in 10 years time.