Celtic close to striking Scottish record kit deal with Adidas

Footyheadlines.com has issued a mock-up of an Adidas-made Celtic home kit

Contract expected to be the biggest in Scottish football history

Celtic are close to announcing a major kit deal with sportswear giants Adidas, according to reports.

The Sun claims “top-level discussions” have taken place between club and company as the Hoops’ existing contract with New Balance nears an end.

Celtic fans have been largely unimpressed with recent efforts from the Boston-based firm but a potential partnership with the three-strip giants has excited supporters.

The current arrangement with New Balance is understood to be worth at least £25 million over five years but the rumoured tie-up with Adidas is expected to eclipse that deal and become the largest in Scottish football history.

It is understood that several sportswear brands were battling it out to succeed New Balance but Adidas are believed to be the front-runners.

Supporters have been creating mock-up kits on social media in anticipation of an announcement.

“A washed-oot Airdrie top”

Fans will be relieved at the prospect of a new kit partner, given the response to New Balance’s silver and pink third kit creation for the 2019/20 season. Supporters panned the strip in their numbers when it was unveiled, with one describing it as looking like “a washed-oot Airdrie kit” and another adding: “It’s hideous by any standards. It doesn’t incorporate any of our colours."

A new era

Celtic have never been sponsored by Adidas in their history, with previous Hoops kits being made by Nike (2005-2015) and New Balance (2015-2020) after the longstanding relationship with Umbro came to an end in 2005 after around 40 years.