Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly set to end its kit manufacturing deal with Castore after just two years.
German sports news site Kicker reveals that Leverkusen will look to axe the deal after running into delivery and supply issues with Castore, with its away jersey having been out of stock for quite some time.
After a historic undefeated campaign last season en route to its first-ever Bundesliga championship, as well as a DFB-Pokal trophy, Xabi Alonso’s men are experiencing newfound fan interest.
Kicker reports that Castore has been having production issues for Leverkusen kits on its site, with certain quality problems. It is also being reported that Bayer has the opportunity to end the deal.
With the uptick in fan and commercial interest, the club’s higher-ups will look to enact this and double-down on jersey and other merchandising sales, which reportedly has unfortunately not been possible on Castore’s end.
The report from the German news outlet revealed that the UK sportswear brand has enhanced its focus on football over the past two years, having secured kit manufacturing deals with the likes of Aston Villa, Everton and Sevilla to name a few.
However, it appears that Castore have bolstered its football plans too quickly, which may have led to production issues with Leverkusen kits.
With a contract termination a possibility, Adidas and New Balance are reportedly being discussed to replace Castore as Leverkusen’s new kit manufacturing sponsor.
This would also signal new revenue for the Bundesliga club to ride the momentum the team is experiencing heading into the new season, with New Balance being the early frontrunners to land any potential deal.
If Leverkusen was to axe its deal with Castore, it would mean another Champions League club has ended its ties with the company in the space of a year.
Last January, Aston Villa ended its deal with Castore after players of both the men’s and women’s team complained over the ‘wet-look’ design of the jerseys, citing difficulties with wearing them and affecting their performance. Villa opted for Adidas for next season and beyond.
