On Friday 1 March Manchester City announced the worst kept secret in football that Puma were to take over the kit deal from the 2019/20 season.
Manchester City have agreed a 10 year kit deal with the German manufacturer Puma worth £650 million, making this the third biggest similar deal in history behind Real Madrid and Manchester United. Puma will take over from Nike at the end of this season which will see some significant rebranding around the Etihad stadium complex and which seems to have already involved various Manchester City players who have signed deals with Puma in recent months.
The Nike contract with its uninspiring designs for the majority of their City shirts based around a common design template has not satisfied many City fans who have felt the kits were too formulaic. There is some excitement and hope around that Puma will celebrate more of the bold designs which have permeated many of our favourite City kits in recent decades, not just be adding retro touches to new shirts but by striding firmly into the future with new iconic designs.
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The early indications are that next season the traditional blue home shirt will have some maroon detailing, that the away shirt will be black with maroon and that the third kit will be banana yellow – in a nod to the past which is likely to divide the fan base. Indeed many of the older fans have expressed some concerns about Puma who are well known for tight fitting sportswear which could render many of the City fans looking like oven ready chickens!
The new Puma deal seems to include a selection of the Clubs within the City Football Group stable in Spain, China and South America, so it remains to be seen how much of the total sum will be revealed in the Manchester City accounts.
But make no mistake this new Puma deal is a clear demonstration of the increasing commercial power and reach of City. Having a huge new sponsor will significantly bolster income in Financial Fair Play considerations and may well kick start a new procession of commercial partnerships. All of this will increasingly be viewed with alarm by our competitors as our growth continues.