Manchester City’s existing kit supply deal with Nike was signed in 2012 and expires at the end of 2018/19 season.
Whilst many fans have been unhappy with the template designs of Nike, leading to some fans even designing their own concept kits and publishing them on Twitter.
There have been rumours Man City were considering several different options for coming seasons. Last summer there were strong rumours of a deal with UnderArmour and discussion that Man City were intending to exit their existing kit deal a year early. This of course did not happen and Nike produced the Centurions kits and have now unveiled their final 3 kits for this their last season.
The existing contract with Nike was rumoured to be worth £12 million a year and whilst this was probably the going market rate back then in 2012 when it was signed, it seems remarkably cheap now.
Since 2012, Man City have grown immeasurably and have been assessed to be the fastest growing football club in the world. There is the added incentive of the Centurions and Pep Guardiola, a highly marketable entity and valuable squad of players. The club are now attracting the world’s best players and can market them in many different continents to their growing fan base.
It has been confirmed today that Man City have now signed a new kit deal with Puma for the season 2019/20 onwards. It is reported this deal is a 5 year contract at a rate of £50 million a year, potentially making it one of the most valuable football merchandising deals ever negotiated.
Of particular interest is the new deal seems to include additional sums for other clubs within the City Football Group operating umbrella – at this stage Girona and Melbourne City have been mentioned, while New York City is rumoured to be excluded.
So City fans may have plenty of new designs to look forward to in coming seasons although some of us may be concerned that Puma’s kits are notoriously slim fit.