Lyon footballer Ada Hegerberg has signed a long-term endorsement deal with Nike worth a reported €1m, according to the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.
The new partnership, which has been reported as a ten-year deal, sees Hegerberg officially end her relationship with Puma after the Norwegian striker’s agreement with the German sportswear brand reportedly expired summer last year.
Hegerberg stated: “It is yet another massive step in my career. Nike and I have common goals to elevate women’s sports in the years to come.
“My performances brought me here, and I sure want to keep writing history with the help of Nike, on and off the field. I am thrilled to be part of this team.”
Meanwhile, Victor Bernard, Hegerberg’s agent, added: “This is an historic contract and a true commitment both to Ada and women’s football.”
The 2018 Ballon d’Or Féminin winner joins Nike’s long list of sporting partners which includes Serena Williams, Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James. Moreover, the US-based brand has already developed a stronghold in women’s football through its deals with UEFA, U.S. women’s national team player Alex Morgan and Chelsea striker Sam Kerr.
Nike has also been a major proponent in efforts to reduce the pay gap between men and women athletes, which includes producing ad campaigns around fair pay featuring the U.S. women’s national team, who won the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
The Norwegian player’s recent endorsement follows on from the strikers previous deals with Mastercard and Hublot, with Hegerberg being a global ambassador for both firms.
Insider Insight: Nike’s long term sponsorship of Ada Hegerberg highlights the continued commercial growth of women’s football. The global health pandemic has halted a lot of women’s football temporarily, which has affected the sport’s development, however, partnerships such as the one between Nike and Hegerberg serve to emphasise the continued value of the game.