The Premier League has confirmed that Puma will become its official match ball supplier starting from the 2025-26 season, bringing an end to a 25-year partnership with Nike.
Reports in the summer of 2023 revealed that the Premier League was preparing to part ways with Nike and sign a new deal with Puma once the American brand’s contract expired this summer. Although Nike had the chance to extend its long-standing agreement, negotiations ultimately failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
“We are thrilled to welcome Puma as the official ball supplier of the Premier League,” said Richard Masters, CEO of the Premier League. “Puma has a proud history in football, and we look forward to seeing the new ball in action across all our matches from the summer onward.”
Puma, a German sportswear giant, already has a strong presence in English football. The company has been the official sponsor of eight-time Premier League champions Manchester City since 2019, and it also sponsors several high-profile Premier League players, including Kai Havertz, Jordan Pickford, James Maddison, Marc Cucurella, and Harry Maguire.
This will not be Puma’s first experience as the official match ball supplier for top European leagues. The brand became the Serie A ball supplier in the 2022-23 season and has provided match balls for La Liga since the 2019-20 season. Puma has also been the official ball supplier for the English Football League (EFL) since the 2021-22 season.
In addition to English football, Puma sponsors clubs such as AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, and Brazilian side Palmeiras. Several EFL teams, including Barnsley, Rotherham United, Blackpool, AFC Wimbledon, and Peterborough United, are also partnered with Puma.
Nike had supplied the Premier League’s match balls since the 2000-01 season, creating at least two different designs per season since 2004-05. The 2023-24 season marked the first since 2019-20 in which Nike did not introduce a third ball design during the campaign. Off the pitch, Nike played a key role in supporting Premier League initiatives, such as the ‘No Room For Racism’ and ‘Rainbow Laces’ campaigns.
Arne Freundt, CEO of Puma, emphasized the significance of the deal, describing it as an “important step in Puma’s brand elevation strategy.” He added, “We are excited to bring our performance technology to the forefront of the game and connect with the millions of fans around the world. With Puma’s ball at the heart of every Premier League match, we look forward to creating unforgettable moments for both players and fans.”
