Barcelona has reportedly "signed a new kit deal with Nike" worth €100M ($112M) per year, according to Jeffrey Boxer of MARCA. The agreement "is expected to be made official in the next few weeks," and would make Barça the "highest-earning club in the world in terms of kit sponsorship." Catalan newspaper Diari Ara reported the La Liga champion and Nike "will sign a 10-year contract." ManU's €96M ($108M)-per-year deal with adidas "had previously been the most lucrative." The Catalan club's deal would triple the current €33M ($37M)-per-season "pact between the two sides." Barcelona's new agreement "was announced just hours after" the English press reported that Chelsea "struck a bargain with Nike" that will be worth nearly €80M ($90M) annually (MARCA, 5/18). ESPN's Jordi Blanco reported the current deal between Barcelona and Nike runs through '18. A Barcelona source confirmed the "positive development" of talks and said the deal will give Barcelona the highest-paying kit deal in the world. The agreement with Nike "gives Barcelona some sense of calm regarding the problems it is having signing a new shirt deal with Qatar Airways." The news of a deal with Nike "is the best explanation for the club remaining calm despite its differences with Qatar" (ESPN, 5/18).
