Chelsea ditch Adidas for Nike in new $1.4 billion kit deal

Chelsea have clinched the most lucrative kit deal in British soccer.

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, left, in action against Southampton. The London club are set to ditch their Adidas kit after signing a huge deal with Nike.

Chelsea have clinched the most lucrative kit deal in British soccer after agreeing a contract with Nike worth a staggering £900 million ($1.44 billion).

The club announced that Nike will take over from Adidas on July 1 next year but did not disclose the terms of the deal ­beyond saying it is the “largest commercial deal in the club’s ­history”.

It is understood, however, that the deal will run for 15 years, until 2032, and will result in Chelsea earning £60m a year. Manchester United’s kit deal with Adidas is worth more per year — £75m — but is only over 10 years. The annual income is twice the £30m that Arsenal receive from Puma for a deal that began in 2014. Only United, Real Madrid and Barcelona have deals that are worth more annually.

The income will further swell Chelsea’s coffers which, alongside all Premier League clubs, are set to experience a big increase in income this season from the new deal on television rights. Chelsea’s revenue for the 2014-15 season was £314.3m, with £99m coming from domestic Premier League money — a figure that could rise to £140m this season. Chelsea will end their existing kit agreement with Adidas six years early after agreeing to pay a reported £40m termination fee.

Marina Granovskaia, a Chelsea director, said: “This is an incredibly exciting and important deal for the club. Like Chelsea, Nike is known around the world for its excellence and innovation and we look forward to working together in what is sure to be a successful partnership. We believe Nike will be able to support our growth into new markets as well as helping us maintain our place among the world’s elite football clubs.”

Meanwhile, Eden Hazard has expressed his frustration at not being able to play in the No 10 role for Chelsea, a role he takes at international level for Belgium.

Roberto Martinez, the former Everton manager who is now head coach of Belgium, has ­started using Hazard in a floating role just behind either Romelu Lukaku, the Everton striker, or Christian Benteke, the Crystal Palace forward. However, despite the number on Hazard’s shirt, Antonio Conte looks set to continue the policy of his pre­decessors by asking the 25-year-old to play on the left wing.

Hazard was voted footballer of the year and players player of the year during Chelsea’s title-winning season two years ago but last season was a different story, as both Hazard and Chelsea, who take on champions Leicester City in the league today, struggled to recapture anything like their best form.

Although there have been comprehensive defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool for Chelsea this season, Hazard has looked much more like the player considered one of the best in world football — however it is in his role with his country that he feels most comfortable.

“I like to play as a No 10,” ­Hazard said. “I think I have more freedom offensively. Belgium have fullbacks who run hard and create a lot of space with the ­national team, which is good and I like to play there.

“I don’t know if I can play there for Chelsea, you need to ask the manager. I play on the left-hand side, and I try to do the best I can. But I do like to play there (at No 10). At Chelsea we don’t often play with that system.”

The Times