Nike in exclusive talks to replace Adidas as Champions League ball supplier | OneFootball

Nike is in exclusive negotiations to become the official match ball supplier for UEFA’s men’s club competitions, potentially ending Adidas’s long-standing partnership with the Champions League.

The proposed agreement would see Nike provide match balls for the Champions League as well as the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Adidas has supplied the official Champions League match ball since 2001, maintaining a 25-year presence in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

That long-running arrangement could now come to an end after UEFA opened a competitive tender process earlier this year.

The governing body sought new proposals in an effort to increase commercial revenue from the match ball sponsorship category.

The process was managed by UC3, a joint venture between UEFA and the European Club Association.

UC3 oversees the commercial rights and marketing operations for UEFA’s club competitions.

Following the bidding process, Nike emerged as the preferred candidate and entered an exclusive negotiation period with the organisation.

In a statement, UC3 confirmed discussions were underway.

“UC3 has agreed to enter an exclusive negotiation period with Nike to become the official match ball provider for all UEFA men’s club competitions from 2027 to 2031,” the statement said.

The negotiations follow a competitive tender launched in March 2026 with the involvement of marketing agency Relevent Football Partners.

Nike’s potential appointment would represent a major return to the elite European match-ball market.

Adidas has dominated the sector for decades, also supplying match balls for the FIFA World Cup and the European Championship.

However, competition between major sportswear brands has intensified in recent years.

Puma has expanded its presence in football equipment sponsorships, replacing Nike as the official ball supplier for the Premier League this season.

Puma also became the official ball supplier for Serie A in 2022 and has held the same role in La Liga since 2019.

Nike previously produced Premier League match balls from the 2000–01 season until losing the contract to Puma.

Meanwhile, the Europa League and Conference League currently use balls manufactured by Kipsta, the sports brand owned by French retailer Decathlon.

Those agreements are also scheduled to expire at the end of the 2026–27 season.

Adidas will therefore remain the official Champions League match ball supplier for the next two seasons before any potential change takes effect.

If negotiations are successfully concluded, Nike would assume responsibility for supplying match balls across all three UEFA club competitions from the start of the 2027–28 campaign.

The development highlights UEFA’s willingness to reassess long-term partnerships in pursuit of improved commercial deals.

Recent negotiations involving sponsorship categories such as official beer partners have also reflected the organisation’s strategy of increasing commercial value across its competitions.