Chelsea have signed the biggest shirt deal in the history of the Barclays Premier League after agreeing a 10-year contract worth £300million with adidas.
Details emerged yesterday of the incredible package put together to bind together Chelsea and the German kit giant.
Although most of the financial aspects of the deal are dependent on Chelsea winning important silverware, the contract is significantly higher than the commercial agreement between reigning champions Manchester United and Nike.
The allure of Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge, along with the existing, long-term partnership between Chelsea and adidas helped to structure the deal.
It is the biggest of its kind in the United Kingdom but, while it is bigger in total than adidas’s deal with Real Madrid and Nike’s package to supply Barcelona’s kit, it falls short of the £31m a year Real command.
Chelsea’s negotiating power has been strengthened by their increasing supporter base around the world after their Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich in 2012. They have huge support in north Africa and the United States, something that proved to be a huge bargaining chip for the club in their negotiations.
Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay and Herbert Hainer, of adidas, have been discussing the deal for months. They finally confirmed the new agreement yesterday.
It is significantly more than the £18m-a-season deal signed last year for Samsung to have their name on the shirt.
Chelsea are becoming increasingly aware of the potential constraints of UEFA’s financial fair play regulations and are looking at other ways of exploiting their brand.
Gourlay said: ‘We are delighted to extend our partnership until 2023 after a highly successful first seven seasons. Both organisations share the same ethos and ambition, and the new deal reaffirms adidas’s belief in the club’s status in world football.’
A Chelsea statement added: ‘This is the biggest deal to date Chelsea FC have signed with a partner and will see the sports brand continue to be the official sponsor and sportswear supplier for the club over the next 10 years.
‘The partnership, which began in 2006, has continued to grow during a period of continued success for Chelsea.
‘The Blues have won major honours both domestically and in Europe, including being the first London club to win the UEFA Champions League.
‘We have also won the Premier League, four FA Cups, the League Cup and, last season, the UEFA Europa League.’
Well, this is a sign that chelsea fc as an evolving club has finally evolved bcos it is d hallmark of success n d stuff of a champion thru youthful n futuristic expected successess dat warrant big sport kit companies like adidas to secure the 2nd biggest kitting right deal of 30m per season with chelsea after madrid wit 31m. For those who still dn’t believe chelsea project is a successful one like mostly d fans of ass anal n partly barca, watch dis space n see more success on d field of play thru trophies n d securing of huge commercial rights n sponsors. Indeed, chelsea now rank amoung d top 5 biggest clubs in terms of financial viability n club football super powers!! Am proud 2 b associated wit such a club!!! Chelsea 4life
You better believe it… In ten years we have grown at great pace and operated professionally always looking after players first n having great squad that people liked- drogba,essien,lamps terry,cech n others…we became world famous,less so in England, but America Australia Africa n now South America cos of brazilians at this super club. Long it may continue. Thank you Mr Ab. Great job so far-keep beating that barca side
Thant to you ab
It’s fantastic d way n pace at which d club is moving!.The other area dt Abra n i am lookin 4ward 2 being developd is our stadium 2 fantastic capacity.
Kudos to my darling club CFC…..KTBFFH.