Deadline Set for Decision on FC Barcelona’s Jersey

The definitive decision regarding FC Barcelona’s jersey seems imminent. While nothing is set in stone yet, the moment when the manufacturer for the next season’s jersey will be revealed is drawing near. Although it wasn’t initially on the agenda for the board meeting held this Tuesday, the topic was discussed among executives, indicating that the club aimed to resolve it before the end of March.

Currently, the club awaits a final meeting with Nike representatives, scheduled to take place in the next ten to fifteen days. During this meeting, the American multinational corporation is expected to respond to the club’s intention to terminate their contract, which is already under dispute until 2028, as explained by President Joan Laporta last week. The club isn’t overly optimistic and is nearly certain that Nike won’t offer the contractual improvement desired by FC Barcelona.

Once the meeting occurs, a decision must be made promptly. If the contract with Nike is terminated, which currently seems most likely, efforts will be made to ensure an amicable resolution, although the club’s lawyers have been scrutinizing all clauses of the contract between the two parties for some time.

President Laporta’s idea, supported by his closest directors but not all members of the board, remains to break ties with Nike and accept the contract offered by Puma. The German company proposes approximately €120 million per season to FC Barcelona, along with a signing bonus of around €100 million, which could be used by the club to settle any compensation owed to Nike.

Nevertheless, the contract with Puma would come into effect from the 2025-26 season, with the next season favoring the use of the club’s own brand. FC Barcelona has made significant progress in both design and production methods for these jerseys, ensuring that they will hit the market in time for the next season. Laporta is confident that the sales of the 2024-25 season’s jersey, commemorating the club’s 125th anniversary, will be a resounding success.