The German Football League (DFL) has signed sporting goods manufacturer Derbystar as its new ball supplier.
The four-year agreement will begin with the 2018-19 season and run until the end of the 2021-22 campaign. The deal will cover the top-tier Bundesliga and the second-tier 2. Bundesliga.
Derbystar has partnered with the Bundesliga in the past, having supplied the league’s balls during the 1979-80 season. The company will replace Adidas, which has held the contract since 2010-11.
Joachim Böhmer, a board member at Derbystar responsible for marketing and procurement, said: “We have doubled our sales since 2010. Our presence in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga will strengthen our brand.”
Derbystar already has a similar agreement in place with the Eredivisie, the top tier of Dutch football, and also supplies balls for leagues in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden.
Adidas spokesman Oliver Brüggen told Bild.de: “As part of our strategy, we will focus even more on cooperation with the leading international clubs and young, emerging players. In addition, as the No.1 global football brand, we are still present with the official game balls on the largest stages for the club and national team football thanks to our partnerships with Fifa and Uefa.”