Norwegian starlet Erling Haaland has recently signed a contract with Nike to be his boot manufacturer for the rest of his career. The deal is said to be worth a significant amount of money, although the exact figures remain confidential. It is expected to be the most lucrative deal in the history of football. The 22-year-old forward has been bagging goals left and right and currently leads the English Premier League with 28 goals, as well as the UEFA Champions League with 10 goals.
According to sources in the Nike camp, Haaland will marketed as the the new Brazilian Ronaldo. The new face of Nike's number nine was being wooed by Adidas and Puma after being out of contract with the Just Do It brand months prior. Ultimately it looks like Nike was able to get Erling to put pen to paper and locked down the superstar for the rest of his foreseeable future. Haaland will join his Manchester City teammate Kevin de Bruyne and competitor Kylian Mbappe on Nike's line up.
Nike held talks with the player and his agent Rafaela Pimenta over several months, leading to an all out bidding war for Haaland's services. Not only will this deal pay Haaland nicely, Manchester City are expected to pay over 146 million dollars to Erling until the 2026/2027 season. Erling Haaland has made it clear that he is interested in exploring how a footballer can build his image rather than simply accepting the highest bid. Nike, who Haaland has just signed a contract with, claim to have an innovative approach that aligns with his vision. As stated prior, the Nike team expect Haaland to reach the same level of popularity that Brazil's Ronaldo.
What's interesting about the collaboration is that it promises more "creative" experiences, and Haaland is said to be excited about Nike's plans for him. The length and size of the commitment from both sides demonstrate the belief that Haaland will be the dominant force in world football with Mbappe over the next decade. The pair are seen as the natural successors to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Nike is renowned for signing mega-deals with iconic sportspeople such as basketball player LeBron James and tennis star Rafael Nadal. Haaland's contract is set to rival the biggest previous deals, such as the £23 million a year Neymar earned from Puma, the £18 million a year Messi earned from Adidas, and the £15 million a year Ronaldo was paid by Nike. For on important events in the culture, and to stay up to date with the latest sneaker releases and news, connect with us on Instagram and Twitter.