Licensing & Merchandising

New Era has struck its first central licensing agreement with the National Hockey League, meaning it now has similar deals in place with all five of North America's major sports leagues

Just days after announcing an extensive new deal with Juventus, global sports merchandising firm Fanatics has sealed a similar long-term agreement with New Zealand Rugby.

Global sports merchandising company Fanatics is to manage all merchandise for Juventus worldwide for the next decade as part of an extensive commercial deal with the Italian club

Zarah Al-Kudcy, the commercial director for reigning WSL champion Chelsea Women, is leaving the club to become the chief revenue officer for NewCo, the independent body set up to run the top-flight women’s league and the second-tier Women’s Championship.

Sportswear brand Castore has entered the Belgian football market for the first time via a kit supplier agreement with Club Brugge

Uefa has opted to canvass the agency market again for global commercial rights sales to its flagship club competitions in a request for proposal process inviting bids over three or six seasons.

French sports brand Lacoste has extended its ‘Premium Partner’ agreement with Roland Garros until 2030 in what is understood to be the most expensive outfitter deal among the four tennis grand slams.

Winners Alliance, the organisation that represents the collective IP of athletes, has appointed Team Playmaker, a new sales, marketing and sponsorship agency founded by former CSM executives Matt Grandis and Ross Meltzer, as its official partnership development agency.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have chosen not to renew their deal with Castore and are expected to embark on a kit supply relationship with a new UK-based brand trademarked by the club’s Chinese owners, Fosun Sports Group.

Fanatics has struck a deal with Topsports, China’s largest sports retailer, to develop its operational capabilities in the country, SportBusiness understands.

Winners Alliance has struck an exclusive agreement with basketball's Euroleague Players Association to manage the commercial rights of more than 300 players across the continent.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has signed a new agreement with Puma in a boost to its track and field growth ambitions

Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku and three French players have won another battle for control of image rights in France – this time in a dispute with the country’s players union and the Panini sticker company.

Despite a recent surge into European basketball from rival Wilson, US sports brand Spalding has extended its ball supplier agreement with Euroleague Basketball.

Chiliz's multi-year expansion of its Socios.com agreement with Atlético Madrid will make the fan tokens more widely available, according to James Murphy, the new chief commercial officer at the blockchain provider.

Animoca Brands-owned digital collectibles company Quidd is back in football after a more than three-year hiatus in which it has learnt to go ‘back to basics’ in the football-related licensing space.