Nike has significantly reduced its roster of European elite football teams, with only six remaining for the 2025-26 season.
Nike to Only Have Six Elite Teams in 2025-26 Season
Once boasting nine to ten top-tier European clubs, Nike has lost significant partnerships with Galatasaray and RB Leipzig for the current 2024-25 season. Much more important losses will happen in 2025. Liverpool and the Portuguese national team will both part ways with Nike, leaving for Adidas (Liverpool) and Puma (Portugal).
The European elite teams that will continue with Nike in the 25-26 season are Barcelona, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan, and Atlético Madrid.
Nike has lost almost half of its top teams since 2020 - the loss of Liverpool is by far the biggest
There has recently also been uncertainty that Barcelona will remain part of Nike's rooster, but the latest information hints at a renewal of the deal. If Nike were to lose Barca, the Swoosh could even fall behind Puma in people's perception.
Meanwhile, Adidas and Puma spent a lot more money to supply major teams. Adidas has signed several major clubs, such as Newcastle and Liverpool, as has Puma with Galatasaray, Portugal, and Red Bull clubs Leipzig and Salzburg.
Nike also has three top American teams
Nike also has three top American teams: Corinthians, Club America, and Pumas. The American teams' kits are not available globally, meaning that they are ranked at the lower elite level.
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