Is Zlatan Ibrahimović Sponsored by Nike?
Nov 20, 2017, by Chris
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his long-awaited comeback in Saturday's Premier League match against Newcastle United wearing Nike Mercurial football boots. However, while this usually is a clear indicator that he also has a contract with Nike, the situation with Ibrahimovic is different as he is an a an athlete with his own sportswear brand, AZ: Sportswear. Let's try to find out if he has a contract with Nike...
Ibrahimovic had been a Nike athlete from the Euro 2004 until late 2014, when he started to wear blackout Adidas boots. However, while this was a clear indicator that his contract with Nike expired after ten years, he never switched officially to Adidas but regularly switched between different blackout boots from both Adidas and Nike.
In June 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimovic launched his own sportswear brand, AZ: Sportswear. In that time, he started to lace both in branded in Adidas and Nike soccer cleats. From October 2016 until April 2017, he only laced up in Adidas X boots, while he switched to Nike Mercurial Vapor boots on April 4 2017. He slipped into the latest colorway of the Nike Mercurial Vapor 11 boots a few days later, indicating that he has already or is close to officially signing with the Swoosh again.
Ibrahimovic's Most Likely Contract Situation - 'Boot-Only' Deal with Nike but no Nike Ambassador
We think that Zlatan Ibrahimović has a boot-only deal with Nike and also gets some money from the Swoosh, but that he is 'not an official Nike athlete'. Why?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic laced up in the latest, brand-new Nike Mercurial Vapor boots from the Fire Pack with a custom text on the boots' upper. All this is typical for players getting their boots directly from a brand and have something like a 'deal'.
However, while wearing Nike's latest boots, Ibrahimovic is not sharing any pictures of them on social and has been also not featured in any Nike advert this year. So he is not an official ambassador / Nike athlete. This is also quite logical as he has his own sportswear brand directly competing with Nike in many sportswear products except boots. So we think that he has a contract with Nike for his boots only and gets some money for wearing them, but is no official Nike athlete.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Contract Situation - Summary
- Until Euro 2004: No Boot Contract - Wears Puma for Puma-sponsored Malmö and Adidas for Adidas-sponsored Ajax
- Euro 2004 - Fall 2014: Official Nike Mercurial Athlete
- Fall 2014 - October 2016: No Boot Deal - Laces up in Adidas Adizero & Nike Mercurial
- June 2016: Launches Own Sportswear Brand - A-Z Sportswear
- October 2016 - April 2017: Adidas Boot-Only Deal But No Official Ambassador? - Laces Up in Latest Adidas X
- April 2017 - Today: Most Likely - Nike Boot-Only Deal But No Official Brand Ambassador - Laces up in Latest Nike Mercurial
Do you also think that Zlatan Ibrahimović has a Nike contract just for his boots but is no official Nike athlete (brand ambassador available for Nike campaigns)? Let us know in the comments below and check out his boot history from the start of his career until October 2016.
Leipzig 26-27 Away Kit Leaked - 5 New Images
The leaked RB Leipzig 2026–27 away kit features a bold red base with yellow logos and trim, plus a subtle tonal leaf-inspired graphic across the front that may reference the Leipzig Botanical Garden. The striking colorway gives the shirt a distinctive, high-energy look.
Turkish Süper Lig 2026-27 Big Four Kit Fonts Revealed
Following the Turkish Football Federation's decision to abolish the mandatory league-wide Arial font, Turkey's biggest clubs have unveiled their custom typography for the 2026-27 season. Football kits specialist @TheTLdesign has shared the new number fonts that will be adopted by Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, and Trabzonspor, marking a definitive end to the unified font era and giving each club a distinct visual identity on the pitch.
The revealed designs showcase unique approaches for each of the four teams. Galatasaray introduces a modern, angular typeface that answers long-standing supporter requests for a bespoke look, while Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş, and Trabzonspor have also opted for stylized numbers that align with their respective club branding. The move to individualized fonts allows the teams to fully customize the backs of their shirts for both domestic and European competitions.
This shift represents a significant aesthetic upgrade for the Süper Lig. Fans have widely praised the transition away from the generic numbers used in previous years, with many expressing a preference for these unique designs that better reflect the character of Turkey's top football institutions.
No More Nike: Robey KVC Westerlo 26-27 Home Kit Released
KVC Westerlo have officially unveiled the KVC Westerlo 2026-27 home kit. Made by Robey Sportswear, it is the club's first kit since the Dutch brand replaced Nike, ending the American brand's four-year spell as Westerlo's official kit supplier (2022-2026).
The home shirt stays true to Westerlo's traditional yellow and blue colors while celebrating the club's strong bond with its supporters. Unveiled under the slogan 'Designed for you. Worn by you. Because you are Westel' the custom-made design highlights the connection between the club and the Kempen region.
The KVC Westerlo 2026-27 home kit is now available through the club's official online store.
What do you think of the new KVC Westerlo 2026-27 home kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Vinicius Jr Joins Mbappé in Nike Mercurial 2026 Scorpion Boots
Following Kylian Mbappé's recent appearances in the new boots, Vinicius Junior has now also taken the Nike Mercurial Scorpion Pack to the pitch. While Mbappé opts for the Superfly 11 version, Vinicius Junior was spotted wearing the low-cut Vapor 17 model. These special edition boots are completely exclusive to the two superstars for the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup. Big thanks to Bootsclub & @sdmlinks.
The design of the new Nike Mercurial Scorpion Pack is heavily inspired by Nike's iconic 2002 Scorpion campaign. The collection brings the classic aesthetic into the modern era, applying it to the latest generation of Nike's speed boots.
Fans looking to get their hands on the boots will not have to wait long. The Nike Mercurial Scorpion Pack, including both the Superfly 11 and Vapor 17 versions, is scheduled to drop on July 9, 2026.
Doncaster Rovers 2026-27 Away Kits Released
Doncaster Rovers have officially revealed their new 2026-27 away kit for the 26-27 League One campaign. Made by local manufacturer Oxen, the new jerseys feature custom designs that pay tribute to the club's history and the city's engineering heritage.
The Doncaster Rovers 2026-27 away kit is heavily inspired by the iconic Mallard steam locomotive. The design draws its color palette directly from the historic train built in Doncaster, and features a bespoke train ticket swing tag as a special nod to the theme.
