Leaked Contract Sheds Light on Youth Player Sponsorships
Something that a lot of you must have been wondering about is how exactly the sponsorship contracts between brands and players look like. Courtesy of French site Espoirs du Football, a full contract of that kind has been leaked, with brand and player names obviously blacked out.
First off, the second line shows the contract duration, 4 years, from 2016 to 2020, indicating that it is a contemporary contract.
Due to the fact that the contract mentions the player reaching the French U17 national team, it can be assumed that it's a contract of the most basic type and for a player of that age - contacts for professional and well-known players are much more complex and come with added benefits.
Presumably due to the fact that the contract is for a youth player, there are no fixed sums of money that will be paid over the duration of it. Instead, the player receives 'only' free boots and sportswear in return for committing to the brand.
Perhaps interestingly, the supply of boots seems to be determined by the brand only, while the 'textile' part is up to the player. At the most basic level, he can get goods of up to €5000 ($5453, £4458) face value per season - this raises up to €8000 if he reaches the French U21 national team. Those have to be collected at the brand's concept stores.
Last but not least, a number of money bonuses are specified at the very bottom of the contract page. Those appear to be only valid for international tournaments between U19 and U21 level (U19 + U21 Euro, U20 World Cup). They state that the player would receive €5000 each for winning such tournament, being chosen as the best player and becoming the top goalscorer.
Are you surprised by what is mentioned in this exemplary contract? Share your thoughts below.
Vintage Football Shirts
from Cult Kits
1995/96 Tanjong Pajar Boys Club #3 Tartan Shirt (L) Umbro
1994 Toyota Cup Adidas Staff Jacket (L)
2019/20 AC Milan *BNWT* Casuals Crew Jumper Sweater (Multiple Sizes) Puma
2000/01 Farnborough Town Home Shirt (XL) Branded
2010/11 Denmark *Player Issue* GK Shirt (XL) Adidas
2012/13 Burnley (Ian Woan) *Staff Issue* Puma Training Polo (M)
1991/95 Tottenham Away Shirt (XL) Umbro
2013/14 Argentina Messi #10 Home Shirt (L) Adidas
2005/06 Bayern Munich Schweinsteiger #31 Home Shirt (L) Adidas
2002/04 Spain Joaquin #22 Third Shirt (L) Adidas
MLS Players Wear Their National Flags on Kits Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Major League Soccer last weekend hosted a dedicated "Farewell Week" to send off its international stars. To mark the occasion, all clubs across the domestic league took to the pitch wearing specially customized kits that honored the various nations represented within their squads.
The most prominent visual update to the MLS uniforms was the addition of official national flags printed directly on the chest for all players and coaching staff. In a highly thoughtful and personalized touch, the league provided specialized double-flag variations for athletes holding dual citizenship. This bespoke detail allowed these specific players to proudly represent both their current homelands and their heritage simultaneously before joining their respective national team camps.
Beyond the chest graphics, teams also sported a unique set of squad numbers on the back of their shirts, featuring a custom pattern made up of the flags of all 48 countries participating in this summer's World Cup.
What do you think of this customized flag concept for the MLS World Cup Farewell Week? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Śląsk Wrocław Announces Macron Kit Deal - No More Nike
Macron has signed a multi-year agreement to become the technical partner of Polish club WKS Śląsk Wrocław.
Starting from the 2026-27 season, the Italian brand will provide technical apparel for the club's men's first and second teams, women's team, youth academy, and blind football team. The five-season deal is the most significant technical partnership in the club's history and includes plans for a new merchandising line for supporters.
Śląsk Wrocław secured promotion to the Ekstraklasa after an impressive campaign in the second tier. Founded in 1947, the Wrocław-based club has won two Polish league titles, two Polish Cups, and one Super Cup, with experience in European competitions. Macron is developing bespoke game sets that will be revealed before the start of the new season.
The partnership bolsters Macron's presence in Polish football alongside existing deals with Lech Poznań, Widzew Łódź, and GKS Katowice.
