The Premier League is set to end a 25-year partnership with Nike and turn to Puma as its official match ball supplier.
The English top flight’s existing contract with Nike expires in 2025.
US manufacturer Nike had the chance to extend a 25-year partnership but negotiations failed to reach a positive conclusion.
Advertisement
The Premier League has now reached an agreement with German firm Puma to supply match balls for all its fixtures from the 2025-26 season.
Puma currently supplies official match balls for Serie A and La Liga, as well as the English Football League, with its Orbita ball used in those competitions.
Nike’s Premier League deal began in 2000, with the Nike Geo Merlin becoming the top-flight’s first official ball in the 2000/01 season.
Match ball technology has developed across the subsequent decades, with the Nike Flight — billed as a “revolution in aerodynamics” — used last season.
The new version of the Nike Flight will be used for the first time in 2023-24 when the Premier League returns on Friday, August 11 with Burnley hosting Manchester City.
As part of its deal, Nike has supplied kit and equipment for the Premier League’s youth development and international events, as well as for the schools scheme Premier League Primary Stars.
(Photo: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57k29wamlpZ3xzfJFsZmlvX2aBcLzRnqSinaJiuaatxq6cZpqRobluusiknGaopaKucA%3D%3D