From next season onwards, Man Utd will be fined £10 million by Adidas if they do not qualify for the Champions League.
Man Utd has been with Adidas since terminating its contract with Nike in 2015. The Red Devils’ first contract with the German sportswear company has a term of 10 years, worth 750 million pounds, and will expire after 1 more year.
However, this cooperation has brought brand and financial efficiency to both parties. Therefore, they signed a new contract last summer, lasting until 2035. Adidas increased its sponsorship per season to 90 million pounds but installed a clause that caused MU to be fined if it did not meet its targets.
Accordingly, MU will be fined 10 million pounds if it does not qualify to participate in the Champions League, starting from the 2025 season onwards. This season, if Ten Hag’s team does not win the right to attend Europe’s No. 1 playground, the Red Devils will not be fined because it is in the last year of the old contract.
MU’s financial report said: “Because the men’s team qualifies for the Champions League in the 2023/24 season, there is no deduction under the original contract with Adidas.”
“Under the new contract, this clause has been amended, stipulating that the club will have a deduction of £10 million for each season that does not participate in the Champions League.”
Thus, from 2025 onwards, every season MU must pay Adidas 10 million pounds if it does not participate in the Champions League. But on the contrary, the Old Trafford home team will be awarded 4.4 million pounds if the men’s team wins the Premier League or the women’s team wins the Women’s Super League, FA Cup or continental tournaments.
This season, MU is ranked 6th after round 28. To have a chance to participate in the Champions League, they must at least finish 5th. The reason is because the Premier League will likely win another spot in Europe’s No. 1 arena. because of its high coefficient on the UEFA rankings.