Aston Villa have signed a lucrative new kit agreement with Adidas, taking over from Castore next season.
Villa are now in their second season with British company Castore, having signed a multi-year contract in 2022, but will switch to the heavyweight German manufacturer in 2024/25 after reaching a long-term agreement.
Adidas will provide uniforms for Villa’s men’s and women’s teams, as well as academy sides, under the terms of the agreement.
Villa, whose Egyptian co-owner Nassef Sawiris controls around 7% of Adidas, has been considering ending their relationship with Castore since early in the 2023-24 season.
The manufacture swap, arranged by the club’s head of commercial operations, Chris Heck, follows reservations from the players over this season’s ‘wet-look’ Castore jersey.
Members of Villa’s men’s and women’s teams complained that the jerseys had gotten too heavy during matches, weighting them down and potentially affecting performance.
The shirt controversy began in pre-season, when players complained that the jersey, which was comprised of 90% polyester and 10% elastane, was “saturated” and incapable of absorbing perspiration effectively. Last month, Villa took delivery of new shirts from Castore which the manufacturer hoped would not have the same saturation issue. It has been less prevalent as the weather has grown colder.
It is unclear whether the contract was originally supposed to expire at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, or if Villa used a get-out option in the contract, as rival Premier League side Newcastle United did earlier this season.
Newcastle have said they will return to Adidas for the 2024-25 season, having previously collaborated with Castore since the start of the 2021-22 season.
Aston Villa currently sit third in the Premier League with two points behind leaders Liverpool, their next game will be a home game against Newcastle and will wear the Castore kits for the remainder of the season.
