Manchester United face losing £25m of £75m-a-year adidas sponsorship deal if they miss out on the Champions League for a second year running... with Manchester City's escape from a European ban piling on the pressure

  • Manchester United have a lucrative £75m-a-year sponsorship deal with adidas
  • If they miss out on the Champions League for another season, it drops by 33%
  • United will lose £25m of next year's fee from adidas if they finish outside top four
  • Southampton's late equaliser on Monday dropped them instantly from 3rd to 5th

Manchester United will miss out on a huge £25million sum from kit sponsors adidas if they fail to qualify for next season's Champions League. 

United have a mega-money £75m-a-year deal with the sportswear brand - second only in the Premier League to Liverpool's £80m contract with Nike - but there is a clause which is likely to be worrying the club's hierarchy.

If United fail to qualify for Europe's premier competition for a second straight season, adidas will not have to pay £25m of the £75m next season, taking the deal down to just £50m - a sum well below the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts after watching his side plummet from 3rd to 5th in the table

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts after watching his side plummet from 3rd to 5th in the table

United risk missing out on £25m in sponsorship cash from adidas if they finish outside top four

United risk missing out on £25m in sponsorship cash from adidas if they finish outside top four

United were in pole position to take third place in the table on Monday night, but a last-gasp equaliser from Southampton dropped them instantly from that projected position to fifth - a place that currently means Europa League for next season.


Until this week, fifth place would have guaranteed United a spot in next season's Champions League, but after Manchester City won their appeal against a two-year European ban that all changed.

Now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, who are 18 matches unbeaten in all competitions, will need to leapfrog Leicester if they are to secure a spot - and that extra 33 per cent of investment.

MOST LUCRATIVE EXISTING AND FUTURE KIT DEALS
Club Kit supplier Contract runs Total value (£) Per season (£)
Real Madrid adidas 2016-2028 1.32bn 110m 
Barcelona Nike 2018-2028 1bn 100m
Liverpool Nike 2020-?N/A 80m 
Manchester United adidas 2015-2025 750m 75m
Manchester City Puma 2019-2029 650m 65m 
Arsenal adidas 2019-2024 300m 60m
Chelsea Nike 2017-2032 900m 60m
Juventus adidas 2019-2027 368m 46m
Bayern Munich adidas 2015-2030 637.5m 42.5m
Tottenham Nike 2018-2033 450m 30m 
As it stands United are level on points with Leicester and one behind Chelsea in top four race

As it stands United are level on points with Leicester and one behind Chelsea in top four race

As it stands, United are level on points with Leicester with a three-goal deficit on goal difference, and one point behind third-placed Chelsea.

In their final three matches, the Red Devils face Crystal Palace away, West Ham at home - and then Leicester away in a mouthwatering clash on the final day of the season. 

In the Premier League, Liverpool have the biggest sponsorship deal having signed an £80m-a-season contract with Nike back in January.

Liverpool are wearing New Balance now but have £80m a year deal with Nike from next season

Liverpool are wearing New Balance now but have £80m a year deal with Nike from next season

Until that point, United's £75m-a-season adidas deal was the biggest in British football history.

Both figures are dwarfed by Real Madrid and Barcelona, with the two Spanish clubs far and away the most well-paid in European football. The former takes in £110m a season, while the latter earns £100m. 

In the Premier League, Manchester City earn £65m a season with Puma, Arsenal £60m with adidas and Chelsea rake in £60m with Nike. Tottenham, meanwhile, have a £30m-a-year deal with Nike. 

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