At the heart of the numerous equipment manufacturers of the 2025-2026 season, Nike's Liverpool's defector in Adidas is necessarily the one that made the most noise. Under contract with Nike since 2020, the Reds will find for the third time the brand with three bands after periods 2006-2012 and 1985-1996. But while Adidas is announced, all club communications are still with a large Nike logo on players' outfits or on sponsors. We explain all this to you.
The “July 1st rule” which will not work for Liverpool
In the world of equipment manufacturers contracts within clubs, it has become normal for changes to sponsor or equipment supplier only from July 1. Indeed, contracts are historically signed based on the sports years, from July 1 to June 30. Therefore, the changes take place in the morning of July 1 and that is why the date of July 1 is historically the densest in terms of release of new jerseys.
However, after July 1, the Liverpool club will continue to wear Nike jerseys and highlight the American brand. Worse, it will resume the path to training and preparing the new season with Nike equipment and will have to wait until August 1 to finally appear with Adidas products. But then, why don't the Reds do like everyone?
The covid in culprit!
Behind this specificity hides the inheritance of the previous contract between New Balance and Liverpool. Club equipment supplier between 2015 and 2020, New Balance was notably the Reds partner during the COVVI-19 period. A particular moment which had challenged the end of its history with the club since if the initial agreement was to stop on May 31, 2020, it had finally been extended until July 31, 2020. ” Liverpool FC confirms that New Balance will continue to be the official supplier of club jerseys until July 31, 2020. It was agreed by mutual agreement with New Balance, the Club and the Nike brand that the agreement, which was to end on May 31, 2020, will be extended due to the suspension of the Premier League because of the COVVI-19. »
As a result, Nike had started his story with Liverpool from August 1, 2020 and his 5 -year contract thus runs until July 31, 2025 and not on June 30 as is usually the case. A fairly unique specificity in the world of equipment manufacturers but which will necessarily disrupt the reading of the arrival of Adidas as a team of Liverpool.
