Premier League giants Manchester City land $2 billion kit sponsorship deal with Puma
City's extension of their contract with Puma ranks as the largest kit manufacturing partnership in Premier League history.
Having agreed a £65 million per year deal with the German company in 2019, City's new arrangement is believed to be worth a £100 million per year until 2035, according to British media reports.
That figure shatters the £90 million per year deal signed by Manchester United with Adidas in 2023.
FOOTBALL LATEST
Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are both reported to have kit deals worth in excess of £100 million per year.
'We joined forces with Puma with the ambition to challenge ourselves and go beyond the expectations. We have achieved this and more over the last six seasons,' City Football Group chief executive Ferran Soriano said.
'Puma have seamlessly integrated into our organisation, and we have enjoyed many historic moments together, engaging fans globally.'
Puma chief executive Arthur Hoeld added: 'Puma's partnership with Manchester City has been a great success both on and off the pitch.
'Trophies, a perfect stage for our performance products and commercial success were exceptional.' City's massive deal comes after the club's first season without major silverware since 2016-17.
Pep Guardiola's men finished third in the Premier League after winning the title for the previous four seasons.
They also suffered a shock FA Cup final defeat against Crystal Palace and crashed out of the recent Club World Cup in the last 16 against Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal./mw
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- News.com.au
AFL world praises Joel Selwood for ‘brave' act as footy great returns after death of his brothers
The AFL world has showered Geelong legend Joel Selwood with praise as the 37-year-old made his return to the commentary box on Sunday. Selwood has been on a break from his media commitments after the sudden death of his brother Adam in May, aged 41. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. His death came just three months after his twin brother Troy took his own life. The surviving Selwood brothers – Joel and Scott – were understandably left devastated by the loss, and Joel decided to take a break from his media obligations. Scott also took a short break from his role at Collingwood, but returned to his duties last month. And earlier this week it was revealed that Selwood would return for Sunday's clash between St Kilda and Melbourne, much to the delight of fans. 'Great to see you back doing what you love,' one fan wrote on Facebook in response to the news. 'Great to see Joel returning we have missed you Joel,' another said. 'So brave, welcome back! Love and prayers for you and your family love you Joel,' a third added. While a fourth wrote on X during the first quarter: 'Good to hear Joel Selwood in Comms again this afternoon. Lots of love on your return.' Joel Selwood's touching tributes to twin brothers Following the death of Adam, Joel wrote a touching tribute message on social media. 'Rest up, love you brother. Look after each other'. It came after his heartfelt speech at Troy's speech in February. 'He was dealt some pretty tough cards over his lifetime. Some he found a way to deal with, but sadly, there were others, no matter how hard he tried, he could never fully control – and he did try,' Joel said. 'He tried so hard. He put up a hell of a fight for mum and dad, for his kids, for his brothers, for his friends and for others who are fighting the same fight, just as he was. 'He fought for all of us. 'He wanted to keep fighting, as he always did in life, but in the end, he simply couldn't lift his arms to throw another punch back. He'll be missed by so many.'
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- News.com.au
Wallabies star Carlo Tizzano accused of diving by UK press as British and Irish Lions eye history
Still livid at the contentious last-minute ruling that cost them victory in the second Test against the British & Irish Lions, the Wallabies are facing the threat of total humiliation if they don't quickly move on from the incident that has divided the rugby world. While head coach Joe Schmidt was fuming that the Lions' match-winning try by Hugo Keenan wasn't ruled out because of Jac Morgan's clean out of Carlo Tizzano in the lead up, the jury is split on whether the Wallabies were robbed or their complaints are just sour grapes. While a lot of Australians think Morgan should have been penalised for making contact with Tizzano's neck, the British media – not surprisingly – have taken a very different view, and accused the Wallabies' backrower of diving. 'Tizzano clearly milked the incident, collapsing with a melodrama that could easily have persuaded some officials to chalk off Keenan's try,' British journalist Oliver Brown wrote in the UK's Telegraph. 'The reality was that Morgan's clear-out technique was blameless: he wrapped his arms legally and could not have gone any lower. By contrast, Tizzano's reaction – staggering back, clutching his head as if in mortal agony – was anything but.' Stephen Jones, a long-time critic of southern hemisphere rugby, also took aim at Tizzano, saying the referees should be applauded for seeing his actions as play-acting. 'Tizzano, unforgivably, reached back and dived out of the ruck clutching his head,' Jones wrote. 'And the officials quite correctly concluded that there was no offence.' The debate is certain to rumble on in the lead up to next weekend's final Test in Sydney. World Rugby's top brass are in town to promote the 2027 World Cup and can expect a grilling on the matter. But nothing they say will change the result. The history books already show the Lions won the match 29-26 to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series and with it the chance of a rare 3-0 cleansweep, which would be an unmitigated disaster for Australian rugby. The last time the Wallabies lost 3-0 to the Lions was way back in 1904 so Schmidt is desperate for his players to come away from the series with something to show for their steady improvement. 'I think they are progressing,' Schmidt said. 'It's never linear, it always tends to ebb and flow. 'Our challenge is to try to be as consistent as we can, even within the game.' When Schmidt and his players sit down in the cold light of day to review Saturday's heartbreaking loss at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, sulking about the decision that went against them will do more harm than good. They would be better off acknowledging the painful truth that this was an epic match that both teams can be proud of but the Australians let it slip through their hands after scoring three tries inside the first half-hour to open up a commanding 18-point lead. While the Wallabies were fist pumping and backslapping each other, there was still 50 minutes left on the clock, and the Lions weren't done with yet. They held their composure to dominate the rest of the contest, outscoring the Wallabies 24-3. With the Wallabies desperately trying to hold on, the Lions just kept attacking and finished with five tries to Australia's three, including two critical scores just before halftime that cut the margin to six points at the interval and swung the momentum their way. Even through the red mist of the gut wrenching finish, Schmidt did at least concede his team had squandered a golden opportunity. 'When you build a lead of 23-5 and then that slips, that's hugely disappointing, particularly when it happens in the last play of the game,' he said. 'We are trying to build consistency. We're trying to play a brand of rugby that entertains people. And at the same time, a brand of rugby that we enjoy playing. 'I'm really proud of the effort the players put in and I'm really disappointed for them. 'That probably puts in context the comments that have been made in terms of our disappointment at the end of the game.' While the Wallabies can't win the series, Schmidt said there was still plenty to play for in Sydney apart from avoiding the embarrassment of a whitewash. With Australia hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2027, the focus over the next two years will be on building a team that can compete for the game's ultimate prize. There are enough positive signs to suggest that the building blocks are there, but nothing lifts the spirits more than winning so that has to be the first priority. 'We had a number of guys who are just growing into the game really and so to stand up and deliver what they did against a collection of some of the world's best players, I was immensely proud of the effort they'd made,' Schmidt said. 'They were broken at the end of it and I think one of the things that you've got to do is you've got to keep resolve and you've got to keep going forward. 'We can't wallow in self-pity because we didn't get the result. We've got to keep trying to build the way we play, the behaviours we demonstrate, and the understanding we're trying to build of the game and how we can best play it. 'You can't get more motivated than what the players demonstrated.' Lions chasing 121-year first Not satisfied with breaking the Wallabies' hearts by clinching their three-game series with a match to spare, the British & Irish Lions are now preparing to go in for the kill in game three. And if the Lions succeed in devouring the Wallabies, the Australians can point the finger of blame at rugby league, because it was the Kangaroos that instilled the ruthless instinct in the Lions' master coach Andy Farrell. Even before they arrived in Australia, the Lions were bragging about wanting to complete the first 3-0 clean sweep against the Wallabies in 121 years and they're right on track after they stole a 29-26 victory with a controversial last-minute try at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. As the celebrations kicked off in the bowels of the MCG, the Lions' captain Maro Itoje and head coach Andy Farrell were quick to warn the Wallabies they would get no mercy in next weekend's final Test in Sydney. 'The first time we met was in London or Dublin, when we met Big Faz (Farrell), he made the call, he wants us to go out here and win, he wants us to win everything,' Itoje said. 'Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely delighted with the result, but we want to go again next week.' Farrell was also bullish about his team's intentions for Sydney but did at least credit to the Wallabies for how well they played in Melbourne after losing the series opener in Brisbane. Written off as no-hopers, the Wallabies led 23-5 in the first half and held the lead for 79 minutes before the Lions snatched the win in the last play of the game. 'Fair play to them, they turned up,' Farrell said. 'They said they were going to turn up physically, but it wasn't just that. They played a great brand of rugby, whether it be their kicking game, 50-22s, et cetera, moving the ball around etc. They played a great brand of rugby.' While the Wallabies were left to rue what could have been, the Lions went straight into full party mode. Soaking up the atmosphere of playing in front of 90,000 fans they did a lap of the MCG to pose for photos with family and fans before heading to the sheds and bursting into song. At the same time Itoje and Farrell were answering questions at their post game press conference, the Lions' squad could be head belting out Status Quo's 'Rockin All Over The World.' When it came time for the Wallabies coach and captain to front the media, they had to face their inquisition while the Lions' were singing Neil Diamond's 'Sweet Caroline.' 'This is a dream for everyone in that dressing room,' Farrell said. 'These lads have dreamt of being a British & Irish Lion all their lives,' said Farrell. 'And to get to the point where we come to the MCG, 90,000 people, with a dramatic finish like that, to win the series is what dreams are made of. 'If you're a child watching that back home do you want to be a British & Irish lion? 100%. That's the dream, that's the fairytale that these lads have wished for. So we're over the moon.' For Farrell, beating the Australians in a series ticked off one of the few items missing from his bucket list. A superstar rugby league player in his day before he turned to coaching rugby union, Farrell played for Great Britain against the Kangaroos in three Ashes' series, in 1994, 2001 and 2003, captaining his country in the last two. But he lost all three series', all in painful circumstances. In 1994 and again 2001, Britain won the Test but lost the next two to concede the series. Then in 2003, the unforgiving Kangaroos hammered the Brits 3-0. Now he has his revenge. The significance wasn't lost on Itoje, who became the first Lions' captain in 12 years to win a series anywhere in the world. 'These are one the moments in your life that you'll cherish. This will live long in the memory,' he said. 'So often in sport, you have to move on to the next thing, focus on what's next, focus on the next challenge. Every now and again, I think it's important to savour the moment. 'This has always been the goal for the results to be this way, this point in the tour. And we're just delighted, this is what dreams are made of.'
Herald Sun
17 hours ago
- Herald Sun
‘Pretty butthurt': Rob Whittaker gutted after narrow UFC loss to Reiner de Ridder
Don't miss out on the headlines from UFC. Followed categories will be added to My News. Robert Whittaker's bid to be UFC champion again has copped a major blow after he was narrowly beaten by Reiner de Ridder on Sunday morning (AEST). The Australian and Dutchman went the full 25 minutes in an entertaining fight at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, but de Ridder was given the split decision victory (48-47 x 2, 47-48). Watch England vs India Test Series LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. It's a third victory of the year for 'RDR' following wins over Kevin Holland and Bo Nickal. It looked like Whittaker might get the victory when he secured a take-down with a brutal right-hand punch and unleashed some heavy blows on de Ridder early in the fourth round. But de Ridder avoided a stoppage and recovered to land some heavy blows of his own, leaving Whittaker's nose bloodied, as the Aussie tired in the later rounds. Watch the highlights from Whittaker vs RDR in the video above It was a very close fight, and Whittaker was understandably gutted when the scorecards narrowly went against him as de Ridder claimed his fourth consecutive win. 'Pretty butt hurt to be honest,' Whittaker said in the Octogan. 'He did what he said he was going to do. I thought I ticked all the boxes, but the pressure was a lot. 'He has a lot of skill sets. He's got a particular way of fighting. I couldn't really throw too many spanners in the works. 'He got it off more times than not and walked away a winner, good on him.' A former UFC middleweight champion, Whittaker's record is now 26-9, and he faces a tough road back to a title fight after losses to de Ridder and Khamzat Chimaev last year. De Ridder's record is now 21-2, and he has earned the right to fight some of the biggest names in the middleweight division, calling out Chimaev after the win over Whittaker. De Ridder said: 'I expected to take him down and choke him out, but he was amazing. So tough, so durable, heavy f***ing hands. Asked who he wanted to fight next, de Ridder said: 'Maybe Khamzat, Dricus (du Plessis) next. Let's go, give me a chance to fight for that strap.' Originally published as 'Pretty butthurt': Rob Whittaker gutted after narrow UFC loss
