The Champions League will start a new phase starting in 2027. In the last few hours, UEFA confirmed Nike as the official supplier of balls to replace Adidas, ending a historic partnership that marked the visual identity of the tournament for more than two decades
.
The new contract, which will run until 2031, will be around 45 million dollars annually, a figure that practically doubles the current agreement and that allowed the American company to prevail in the tender against other brands.
The negotiation was carried out by UC3, the company that brings together UEFA and the main European clubs, with the participation of Relevent Sports.The Champions League will no longer have its iconic all-star ball
The change will not only be a brand change, since it will also entail the disappearance of the traditional star design, because the rights to that pattern belong to the German brand. In this way, the final of the 2026-2027 edition, scheduled for June 5 at the Metropolitan Stadium in Madrid, will be the last to be played with this iconic
model.
In addition, the modification will also cover the Europa League and the Conference League, which for the first time will be included in the same commercial package. Until now, these tournaments used balls from Kipsta (Decathlon's sports division), which means that from 2027 there will be a
single supplier in all continental competitions.
The historic star design was introduced in 2001 with the “Finale” model, inspired by the Champions logo created in 1992. Over the years, it remained a distinctive symbol of the tournament, regardless of the changes in colors and materials.
For Nike, on the other hand, it's a return to familiar terrain. The Pipa company had already been a supplier of balls in UEFA tournaments between 1997 and 2001, however, this new phase presents a greater challenge, since it will have to develop a completely different visual identity to replace one of the most recognizable emblems
in world football. Nike had already been a supplier to the Champions League
The agreement not only represents an aesthetic change, but also an economic leap for UEFA and the clubs, who will see their revenues increase as a result of this new contract.
Starting with the 2027-2028 season, every game will mark the beginning of a new era without the all-star ball that defined the European elite for more than 25 years.
