UEFA and ECA, the association of European clubs, have announced on Thursday that they are entering negotiations with Nike. The brand aims to become the official supplier of balls for the Champions League and other European competitions.
This change would disrupt years of iconic design. While Adidas has been responsible for designing the balls used in European competitions for 25 years, Nike is looking into replacing the German brand. This was announced in a statement by UC3, a commercial entity uniting UEFA and ECA.
The organization revealed that they have entered into exclusive negotiations with the American giant to become the official supplier of balls for the Champions League, as well as the Europa League and the Conference League. This application follows a tender launched for this purpose.
A unique style ball
According to The Athletic, Nike is in a strong position to win the battle against Adidas and Puma, who are also involved in the process. The “swoosh” brand has reportedly doubled the current UEFA deal, offering a contract worth about 40 million euros per season.
If Nike emerges victorious over its competitors, the iconic star-covered ball design (representing the Champions League logo) may no longer be seen on the pitch. Introduced by Adidas in 2001, the franchise reportedly holds the rights to it, according to The Guardian, meaning the American brand will have to work on a new model, as reported by the British media. This redesign is expected to take effect from the 2027-2028 season, which will mark Nike’s first year of contract.
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