No More Nike - Viktor Gyökeres to Join Adidas?
- Gyökeres Switches to Adidas: Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres has ended his long-standing association with Nike and is set to become an Adidas athlete, as evidenced by his appearance in Adidas boots during his official Arsenal presentation in July 2025 and subsequent on-pitch debut in October 2026.
- Official Adidas On-Pitch Debut: After being spotted in Adidas boots for over a year, Viktor Gyökeres officially debuted the Adidas F50 Hyperfast 'Final Rush' in an English Premier League match in October 2026, replacing his usual Nike Mercurial cleats.
- Part of Nike's Player Purge: Gyökeres's departure from Nike is not an isolated event but rather part of a larger trend since late 2023, where Nike has implemented a significant cost-cutting strategy leading to a 'player purge' and numerous high-profile athletes leaving the brand.
Update: Monday, October 19, 2026: More than a year after being first spotted in Adidas boots, Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres debuted the German three-stripes brand on the pitch. Gyökeres wore the Adidas F50 Hyperfast 'Final Rush' in the previous English Premier League match instead of his usual choice, the Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 'Blueprint' soccer cleat. This suggests that an official deal with Adidas is very close.
Monday, July 28, 2025: In a major boot sponsorship switch, new Arsenal signing Viktor Gyökeres is set to become an Adidas athlete, ending his long-standing association with Nike. The Swedish striker was spotted wearing the latest Adidas F50 boots during his official presentation photoshoot with the Gunners.
Viktor Gyökeres to Join Adidas
During his first official photos as an Arsenal player, Gyökeres laced up in the 'Road to Glory' Adidas F50 boots.
Adding significant weight to the impending deal, the boots featured a custom Swedish flag on the side, a personalization detail that Adidas typically reserves for its officially sponsored players.
The switch marks the end of a long period for Gyökeres as a prominent Nike Mercurial athlete. Signs of a split have been apparent for some time; since the start of 2025, Gyökeres had exclusively worn the 'Mad Ambition' Mercurial colorway, which was released in the summer of 2024. Not receiving the latest colorways is often the first sign that a player's contract has not been renewed.
Part of Nike's Player "Purge"
Gyökeres's departure from Nike is not an isolated incident but part of a much larger trend. Since late 2023, Nike has been undergoing a major cost-cutting strategy, which has resulted in a significant "player purge" that has seen numerous high-profile players leave the brand.
Gyökeres is the latest big name to make the switch to a rival, with Adidas set to add another top Premier League striker to their F50 roster.
What do you think of Viktor Gyökeres moving to Adidas? A good signing for the Three Stripes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.