The German national football team will begin having its kits produced by the American sportswear giant Nike, ending its longstanding partnership with the German company Adidas, as announced by the German Football Federation (DFB) on Thursday.
The agreement with Nike is set to commence in 2027 and will extend until at least 2034, according to a statement released by the DFB.
"We look forward to working with Nike and thank them for the trust they have placed in us. The future partnership will enable the DFB to continue to fulfill key tasks in the coming decade with a view to the comprehensive development of football in Germany," DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said.
"But one thing is also clear: until December 2026, we will be fully committed to the joint success of our long-standing and current partner Adidas, to whom German football has owed a great deal for more than seven decades."
The German team's 70-year partnership with Adidas has yielded success for both the men's and women's teams, securing six World Cup victories between them while proudly sporting Adidas' iconic three-stripe branding.
A recent redesign of the men's away shirt by Adidas caused a stir in Germany. Departing from the traditional black and red or green, the kit featured vibrant pink and blue colours.
However, it was financial considerations that prompted the DFB to switch to Nike, as revealed by treasurer Stephan Grunwald.
Adidas had been paying approximately 50 million euros ($54 million) a year to kit out the German national football teams.
"We are grateful to be able to look forward to an economically stable future again as an association thanks to the commitment promised by Nike," he said.
