Adidas Loses Bundesliga Ball Supplier Deal
Derbystar will become the new ball supplier for the first and second German Bundesliga from the 2018-19 season. Derbystar had been represented in the Bundesliga through numerous partnerships with different clubs since the 1970-71 season. In the 1979-80 season, Derbystar balls were used in all 306 matches played in the Bundesliga.
"Our open and trusting talks with the DFL have led to the conclusion that we will not continue our long-term successful cooperation beyond the expiry of the current 2017-18 contract," said Adidas spokesman Oliver Brüggen, As part of our strategy, we will focus even more on cooperation with the leading international clubs and young, emerging players. "
Derbystar Becomes New Bundesliga Ball Supplier From The 2018-19 Season
Derbystar was featured for the last time in the Bundesliga.
The partnership with Derbystar is set to run over four seasons until 2021-22. The announcement was made today by DFL Sports Enterprises (DFL SE) in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Adidas already lost the ball deal with the French Ligue 1. Uhlsport will make Ligue 1 footballs from the 2017-18 season.
Adidas made the official match balls for the Bundesliga from the 2010-11 season.
"Our new partner Derbystar has long stood for the highest product quality – quality that is acknowledged by clubs and players alike. We also appreciate the international distribution network Derbystar maintains together with Select Sport, its parent company," says Jörg Daubitzer, CEO of DFL SE.
"Our return to the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 underscores the company's strong position in the market and our very positive performance in recent years," says Andreas Filipovic, who is in charge of sales and sponsoring on Derbystar's board. "We have doubled our sales since 2010. Our presence in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 will strengthen the brand," says Joachim Böhmer, the board member at Derbystar responsible for marketing and procurement.
Founded in 1968, Derbystar has specialized in the production of hand-stitched sports balls and was among the first manufacturers to use synthetic materials for this purpose. In 1991 Derbystar Sportartikel GmbH became part of Select Sport A/S (Select), a Danish sports ball specialist that has been an industry benchmark since 1947.
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Adidas Greece 2026-27 Away Kit Debuted
The Adidas Greece 2026-27 away kit has officially made its debut. The Greek players wore their away kit in last night's 2-2 draw against Sweden.
Unfortunately, this kit will not be seen at the 2026 World Cup, as Greece failed to qualify for the tournament.
The kit features a deep blue base, complemented by subtle tonal vertical striping integrated directly into the fabric. A thick white crossed collar provides a stark contrast, matching the white Adidas stripes on the shoulders and the classic Trefoil logo on the right chest. As a nod to the Hellenic Football Federation's centenary, the back of the collar includes the Greek text "ΧΙΛΙΑ ΕΝΝΙΑΚΟΣΙΑ ΕΙΚΟΣΙ ΕΞΙ," which translates to 1926, the federation's founding year.
Rumor: Newcastle United Set to Sign ElevenLabs as Main Kit Sponsor?
Newcastle United may be on the verge of signing a new front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with the AI-powered audio company ElevenLabs - prominent fan account @NUFCgallowgate posted a series of teaser graphics on X, directly linking the club's crest with the tech firm's logo and fueling discussions about a potential commercial partnership for the upcoming seasons.
The speculation was further amplified by a high-quality digital mock-up shared by the same account. The render showcases the Adidas Newcastle United 2026-2027 home kit featuring the ElevenLabs logo prominently across the chest.
The Newcastle United 2026-2027 home kit releases on 10 June 2026, so a new sponsor deal would come just in time.
Would you like to see ElevenLabs become the new main sponsor for Newcastle United? Let us know in the comments below.
RC Lens 26-27 Away Kit Teased
French club RC Lens has officially teased its new Adidas 2026-27 away kit, with a full reveal scheduled for June 6 at the iconic twin slag heaps in Loos-en-Gohelle.
The teaser video features the hashtag #MentalitéCharbonneur, heavily leaning into the club's deep-rooted coal mining heritage.
The Lens 2026-2027 away jersey features a green and black colorway, a fitting tribute to the region's historical landscapes.
