EPL giants Liverpool likely to swap Nike for Adidas: Reports

EPL giants Liverpool is reportedly changing apparel and will announce a new deal worth millions of pounds by collaborating with German brand, Adidas. The collaboration is planned to start in 2025/26. It has been reported that Adidas beat Liverpool's current kit supplier, Nike, and competitor Puma, to win a deal that will last for five seasons, reuniting the brand and the Merseyside club after 13 years. The Reds only switched to a partnership with Nike in the 2020-21 season after winning a court case against the previous supplier, New Balance, which claimed it had equal rights to the new agreement.

Nike's £30m-a-season deal with Liverpool is relatively small for a top-flight kit deal, but it is claimed the global reach and marketing power of the sports brand attracts the Reds. According to a Sports Business report, Liverpool's new deal with Adidas will be higher than the £50 million per season they receive from Nike. However, it will be far below Manchester United's £90 million-a-year deal with the German company, which is the record value for the highest apparel contract in the Premier League.

The Reds' arch-rivals extended their contract with Adidas until 2035 last July, increasing the guaranteed fixed figure from £75M- £90M, subject to several adjustments. It cannot be denied that Adidas is currently pursuing several new deals after losing its partnership with the German national team, which has agreed to a surprise deal with Nike starting in 2027. Adidas, which has been Der Panzer's kit supplier for over 70 years, currently pays them £43 million a year, with a new deal with Nike worth almost double that. Last year, Adidas signed a lucrative boot deal with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has made over 300 appearances for Liverpool.

The Reds had kits made by Adidas during two previous periods, between 1985 and 1996, creating some of the most iconic kits ever, and the two of them once again worked together between 2006 and 2012. Warrior, a subsidiary of New Balance, held the contract from 2012 to 2015 before its parent company took over. Liverpool's kits have also been supplied by British companies Umbro and Reebok over the years.