Arsenal Confirm Puma Sponsorship Deal

Arsenal have confirmed German sports manufacturer Puma as their new global kit sponsor in a record-breaking deal from the start of the 2014/15 season.

The deal, reportedly worth £150m over five years, replaces the Gunners' long-standing association with Nike whom had been the club's primary sponsors since 1994.

Puma, who are already signed with Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund as well as Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud and former captain Cesc Fabregas, will become the club's global merchandising brand.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: "We are excited to be partnering with Puma, a company whose football heritage and record of innovation have a strong affinity with our own. This represents another important step forward in Arsenal's progression on and off the pitch."

He added: "One of our long term goals is to be able to invest in our squad this deal is an important step in our development. The money will be available to the manager to use in the way he sees best."

Bojoern Gulden, Puma chief executive added: "Arsenal have been a key strategic target for Puma for a number of years now. Arsenal represents a major commercial and marketing opportunity to reinforce Puma's credibility as a global sports brand."

The deal eclipses both Liverpool's association with Warrior and Manchester United's partnership with Nike as the biggest deal in English football history and further cements Arsenal's presence among the world's elite sporting brands.

With Arsenal adding to their marketing portfolio speculation will now be rife over whether the club will translate their impressive financial position into an improvement on the pitch, where they are without a major trophy since 2005.

The deal is likely to further pressurise manager Arsene Wenger into making another marquee signing in the upcoming window, to help further close the gap to Manchester City and Chelsea, despite currently leading at the Premier League summit.

Puma's deal with Arsenal has long been in the offing and was seemingly prematurely announced in the summer after British athlete Lindford Christie posted an image on Twitter in October of Thierry Henry wearing the new kit. The image was subsequently deleted.