New Balance file court case as they fight Nike kit deal with Liverpool

James Pearce reports that New Balance have filed a dispute with the High Court regarding Liverpool’s kit manufacturers next season.

The report claims that Nike were to be named as Liverpool’s kit manufacturers with a huge £70m-per-season deal.

However, New Balance are certain they have triggered a clause that allows them to match Nike’s offer and a contract extension with the Reds (h/t Athletic).

Liverpool are denying this proposal and New Balance have taken the club to court, according to the Athletic.

A Liverpool spokesman was quoted as saying (h/t Athletic):

“We can confirm that our kit supplier, New Balance, has commenced a legal dispute against the club. We will not be making any further comment during these legal proceedings.”

New Balance fighting to keep Liverpool in their portfolio

The Athletic adds that New Balance have a ‘matching clause’ in their contract where the Reds are obliged to inform the Americans of Nike’s new bid and allow them to submit a similar offer.

It looked like New Balance would be unable to match the bid by Nike, however, they are ready to stump up the huge offer, and hope to keep hold of the Reds (h/t Athletic).

The report adds that Liverpool have already designed the kits for the 2020-21 season, but there is no guarantee they will be used for the next campaign.

New Balance have been our kit manufacturers since 2015 and it will be interesting to see who we end up with next season.

Liverpool seem set for one of the biggest kit deals in world football, which is a testament into how much we have grown under FSG.

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Nike already have the biggest kit deal in football with Barcelona at £100m per campaign. Adidas come second on the list with Real Madrid at £98million per season (h/t Athletic).