West Ham United could be set for a Nike kit deal as rumours resurface after the club’s previous vague Umbro contract update?
The Hammers were in the last season of a five-year deal with kit maker Umbro back in 2019 when it was renewed.
The firm had replaced fans’ favourites Adidas as West Ham’s kit manufacturers.
Speculation from SAB meetings with West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady at the time suggested Umbro were set to be replaced by Nike for the 2020/21 season.
West Ham have had kits made by Umbro, Adidas, Fila, Reebok, Macron, Pony and Admiral over the years but never Nike.
Now speculation is doing the rounds in West Ham circles that the partnership with Umbro will not be renewed and finishes at the end of this season.
The word is that West Ham are set for a Nike deal as rumours resurface after the club’s previous vague Umbro contract update.
But there is confusion surrounding those unverified rumours.
Because in the summer of 2019 West Ham announced a renewal with Umbro – which made the club’s first ever replica kits – until the end of the 2022-2023 season (whufc.com).
Just a year later, though, West Ham made a new announcement ‘confirming a new long-term extension with Umbro which will see the global sportswear company remain as the Club’s Official Technical Partner’ (whufc.com).
The statement on West Ham’s website did not specify when that extension expires, though.
Umbro – like most firms – have produced kits which have received mixed reviews from West Ham fans over the years.
A switch to Nike would certainly be a major step up in terms of branding for West Ham.
But some fans feel their kits are often too generic and templated for several clubs.
There has also been speculation that Castore, which make kits for Newcastle and Aston Villa, could be in the mix to replace Umbro too.
But given the lack of clarity from West Ham over when the ‘extended’ Umbro deal is up, we remain very much in the dark for now.