Puma Inks Long-term Deal with Christian Pulisic

Ronn Torossian, CEO, 5WPR

Puma has signed a long-term deal with American soccer star Christian Pulisic. The footballer left Puma’s rival Nike to join the German sportswear brand. Their partnership goes beyond promoting sportswear alone, as the American is set to work with Puma to grow soccer in the United States. With the deal, Christian Pulisic’s partnership with Nike has officially ended.

Together with Christian Pulisic, Puma intends to build football camps, clinics, repair some soccer fields, and also donate products to youths that need them in the US. They intend to grow American soccer through different opportunities and programs.

Pulisic plays for Chelsea football club and became the youngest captain in the history of the US men’s national team in 2018. He is only 22, yet is regarded as a highly marketable soccer star due to his popularity back home in the US. The attacking midfielder also has deals with Chiptole, Panini, Gatorade, Hershey’s, and some other brands.

Pulisic said joining Puma from Nike was an easy decision for him because Puma shares his passion for change and his vision to support youth soccer in America, and help young American soccer enthusiasts achieve their dreams.

He will become one of the faces of the Puma Ultra range and is expected to debut a customized pair of Puma’s Ultra 1.3 boots at the Uefa Super Cup final against Villarreal on the 11th of August. The Super Cup final will mark the first time that Pulisic will wear a customized pair of boots from Puma.

As marketer Rick De La Croix noted, “Christian Pulisic isn’t the only marquee soccer star on Puma’s books either, the sportswear maker has a roster of superstar soccer players that includes Neymar, Antoine Griezmann, , and Sergio Aguero.

Puma is also reportedly working on creating a signature line for Christian Pulisic and has created a signature logo that blew away the soccer star when it was revealed to him. It’s befitting that Pulisic is getting all this attention; he became the first American to lift the Champions League when he won it with Chelsea in May.

Puma’s Statement on the Deal

Puma released a statement about their signing of Christian Pulisic, saying “ Pulisic’s journey has been an incredible one, and that the soccer star has paved the way for a lot of young American players that dream of playing for the biggest clubs in Europe”. They also added, “Not only have we signed an amazing talent, but we have also signed a fantastic person that yearns to grow soccer off the pitch in America, and we commit to supporting his goal”.

The financial details and terms of the agreement are yet undisclosed, but there are whispers that the deal is a record- breaking one. Brands spend a lot of money on endorsement deals, especially with world-famous soccer stars, so there’s definitely a lot of money involved in Pulisic’s deal with Puma.

Christian Pulisic is America’s most expensive soccer player and is now officially a Puma athlete with this new deal he signed.