Under Armour has confirmed a four-year kit deal with Andy Murray, “bringing to an end the British No 1's clothing association with adidas,” according to Stuart Fraser of the London DAILY MAIL. Under Armour -- which kits out EPL side Tottenham Hotspur, skier Lindsey Vonn and golfer Jordan Spieth -- was the frontrunner "in negotiations for Murray's new clothing contract” as his five-year deal with adidas came to an end. The Scot will continue to wear adidas Barricade shoes until Under Armour has developed footwear “specifically for him, for which the process is estimated to take at least six months” (DAILY MAIL, 12/30). BLOOMBERG’s Danielle Rossingh reported both parties said Murray “will wear Under Armour apparel, footwear and accessories” from ‘15. Terms “weren’t disclosed.” Under Armour Senior Category Dir for Global Golf & Tennis Ryan Kuehl said, “Signing Andy is really a special moment for the brand, as we continue to elevate and diversify our athlete roster and expand our international presence” (BLOOMBERG, 12/30).
PAY FOR PLAY: In London, Mark Cue wrote Andy Murray appears to have “maintained his pulling power.” He will reportedly earn about £15M ($23.4M) during his partnership with the American brand. It is “about the same amount he received from adidas over a longer term,” although his earnings are expected to depend on his performance (LONDON TIMES, 12/30). Also in London, Simon Briggs opined the deal is a "welcome fillip for Murray as he moves into the next phase of his career.” The new contract should roughly equal £15M, but that number can “only be estimated as the Under Armour contract is strongly linked” to performance. If Murray were to “drop down the world rankings, he would effectively end up taking a pay cut on the sponsorship side.” The economics reveal how well the market responds to on-court performance. Roger Federer is the “highest earner in men’s tennis, kit-wise,” with his 10-year Nike contract worth around $140M (TELEGRAPH, 12/29).
