Soccer
Landslide vote for Barcelona’s record-breaking $1.8 billion deal
The LaLiga giants have put pen to paper on a new 14-year agreement with Nike to continue as kit manufacturers.
A landslide vote at an Extraordinary General Assembly of Barcelona’s members has passed a record-breaking kit manufacturing agreement with Nike.
The American sportswear brand have produced Barcelona’s iconic jerseys since 1998 but there had been some suggestion that the relationship could soon end, with Barcelona looking to maximise revenue streams. However Nike eventually agreed to a huge $1.8 billion, 14-year deal that trump any other of its kind.
The Assembly was held on Saturday, December 21 and the Barcelona members voted 419-27 in favour of ratifying the agreement. Club president Joan Laporta announced the news in a speech given later in the day.
“We are strong, convinced and determined to complete the recovery of the club in every way. And this agreement is along these lines because it helps this economic recovery a lot, and it also confirms this recovery. Barça has returned to the top of the world with this agreement,” Laporta said.
How much is Barcelona’s Nike deal worth?
Laporta went on to describe the new deal as a "quantitative and qualitative leap" for Barcelona, adding that the board had considered “the present and the medium term” as well as the more distant targets. It represents a significant increase on the previous deal.
Barcelona’s previous Nike deal was valued at $112 million per year, and was due to expire in June 2028. Barça had considered switching manufacturers, or even creating their own kit, but have been tempted back by an improved Nike offer.
The improved 14-year deal would run until 2038 and is worth significantly more to the club. There’s a signing bonus of $169 million, paid across the course of the deal, and improved annual payments.
SportsPro reports that Barcelona will earn $132 million per year from Nike, surpassing all other manufacturing deals in soccer. That figure beats the $105 million that Manchester United receive from Adidas and even eclipses the $120 million that Adidas pays to Real Madrid.
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