Overview
- UC3, which manages UEFA club rights, said Thursday it entered exclusive talks with Nike for the 2027–2031 match-ball deal after a competitive tender run with Relevent Football Partners.
- Adidas confirmed it will not renew its long-running pact and will keep supplying the Champions League ball through the 2026–27 season.
- If finalized, the agreement would put Nike balls on the field for the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League starting in 2027–28.
- Reporting that cites the Financial Times says the match-ball category could top €40 million per year under a new contract.
- Analysts say the exposure would help Nike’s profile, yet it would not fix deeper issues such as weak sales in China and a recent lack of standout products.