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When the current season ends, so too does New Balance’s deal as Liverpool’s kit supplier. And as of today, it’s official: Nike will replace them starting with the 2020-21 season. It’s hardly been a secret, of course.
The club even were even taken to court recently after New Balance claimed they had matched Nike’s offer as per their contract, but in the end the courts ruled in Liverpool’s favour, allowing them to take Nike’s deal.
That deal will see a relatively low baseline payout for Liverpool but, unusually for a kit deal, it will see the club retain a portion of sales—in this case, starting in the summer, shirt sales really could pay for a player.
It’s been reported that the deal will see Liverpool keep 20% of any kit and branded merchandise sales and 5% of any branded footwear sales. Typically, the manufacturer pays a flat fee and shares none of the profit.
“We welcome Nike into the LFC family as our new official kit supplier,” read a statement from club commercial director Billy Hogan. “Nike reflects our ambitions for growth, and we look forward to working with them.”