Spanish 2019-20 UEFA Europa League winners FC Sevilla last Friday released their new Nike 20-21 home, away and third kits. They feature custom colors but no bespoke designs because Sevilla is no premium / top-tier Nike team - should they become one?
Sevilla 20-21 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
In early August 2020, FC Sevilla and Nike extended their original three-year kit deal for another season, until the end of the 2021-22 season. The deal is worth around €2.3 million a year, with bonuses of up to 500,000 Euro when qualifying for the Champions League.
Sevilla Extends Nike Deal For One Season Until 2022 - Record-Breaking Sales With Nike
Sevilla - Only Nike Standard Team?
For Nike, there are at least four different tiers of teams - Elite , Premium, Standard & Third Party ["Not-Directly Supplied By Nike"]. Let us first look what Nike's different tiers mean for the clubs.
Nike's Pyramid Of Teams - Elite, Premium, Standard & Third-Party
Elite Teams (e.g. FC Barcelona, Liverpool):
All Nike Elite teams get three bespoke jerseys, including a streamlined third kit (Air Max-inspired this season), exclusive pre-match jerseys as well as a lot of other bespoke gear.
The newest team to become a Nike Elite team was Bundesliga club RB Leipzig. The 10 Nike Elite teams for 2020-2021 are Atletico, Barcelona, Chelsea, Galatasaray, Inter, Leipzig, Liverpool, PSG, Roma and Tottenham.
Premium Teams (e.g. Eintracht Frankfurt, Zenit, Hertha BSC, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Steaua Bucharest:
Premium teams are on the second level of Nike's pyramid. They get custom kit designs (most times home & away only), streamlined pre-match shirts and some custom lifestyle / training gear.
Standard Teams (e.g. Brighton, Sevilla?, Young Boys), FC Utrecht
Standard teams have a direct contract with Nike but get no bespoke designs - they mostly receive kits with custom color combos.
Brighton & Hove Albion 20-21 Away Kit Released
"Third Party" (e.g. FC Augsburg & 1860 Munich (deal managed by 11teamsports, Birmingham & Portsmouth (deal managed by Just Sport):
Third Party teams have no direct contract with Nike but with a third-party, who manage contracts for Nike in those countries. These teams get no bespoke kits from Nike ever.
FC Sevilla - No Custom Designs, Direct Contract With Nike -> Standard Team
With FC Sevilla, the case seems to be relatively clear - they are just a Standard Nike Team. The Spanish team gets no bespoke kits, so they are not even on the same level as Eintracht Frankfurt, Brighton and Utrecht.
RB Leipzig to Become 10th Nike Elite Team Next Season
Celtic To Become 6th Adidas Elite Club?
Should Sevilla become a new Nike top team? Which other Nike teams would deserve the 'Elite' treatment? Comment below.