The season is close to coming to an end, club contracts are running down and clearly so are boot contracts. Over the last few weeks, multiple top-level athletes have been spotted playing around with different brands and silos, suggesting a possible end in contract. Let’s have a look at who is wearing what.
Boosting their already hefty incomes, many players team up with brands for boot sponsorship deals in a partnership that favours both parties. The brand gets spotlighted on the feet of some of the best players in the world, and the player gets paid generously – a win-win scenario. However, what happens when those contracts come to an end? Well, we usually see players start to dabble in other brands/silos, really find out what the best fit for them is. All whilst the brand all scrap to bolster their squad with some big name signings.
With the season running down, we are starting to see hints of players possibly looking for new boot contracts ready for the beginning of next season. We have highlighted some of the top athletes we have spotted testing the waters in recent weeks. Let's have a look...
Starting with one of Manchester United's starboys Alejandro Garnacho. Now this one came as a suprise to all of us, still a young player with buckets of talent it was looking like Nike would tie the Argentine down – looking strong for the future of the brand. Garnacho was even the chosen one for the CR7 Mercurial Re-gens earlier in the year, almost like passing the baton down from his idol. But ties with Nike look to be fading, as he has been spotted dipping a toe into different branded waters. First seen warming up in a clean pair of Skechers SKX_01, he was then later seen training and rocking matchday in the latest adidas F50 LL – suggesting maybe a move to these brands. However, just this week, Garna was seen donning the new PUMA Ultra 5's during a United training session. The young star is clearly playing the field, and why not. All eyes stay on Garnacho to see which brand he will choose to commit to.
Powerade may have just gave us a spoiler of where Rodrygo will be taking his business next season, as their recent announcement shows the Real Madrid star in PUMA Ultra 5's. Rodrygo is currently one of the best players in the world, his talent often forgotten with the big names of Bellingham, Vini Jr and Mbappe surrounding him, however he turns up every single game – his consistency throughout the season is off the charts. A well-known Nike athlete, Rodrygo has recently been lacing up all-white Mercurials. If you know anything about boot contracts, you know it's not a great sign when ballers start wearing white-out or black-out boots – usually being the first hint at a contract ending. Well the rumours have been flying around and now with this latest Powerade announcent are we looking at a new PUMA era for the Brazilian?
Thomas Partey is the next in the line of top athletes mixing up their boot game. A player who has religiously worn adidas boots for years now could be looking for a new chapter in his career. Partey was seen training in a pair of adidas F50 LL, as usual, but this time the upper was completely black-out – looking to be painted over. If this doesn't scream contract ending then I'm not sure what does. Since then the Arsenal midfielder has been spotted taking some New Balance Furon's out for a test drive during training. Could NB be the next look for him?
Next up: Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins. Another Nike athlete that could be looking for a move away soon. Watkins is a lover of the Phantom silo, which up until a couple months ago he was wearing in the most up-to-date colourways. Coming into the backend of the season, however, he seems to be moving away from that – choosing to don the older model of Phantom GX during important league games and then an unexpected turn to adidas F50's during some of Villa's crucial Champions League games. The F50 must be a serious contender for Ollie as he chose to test the laced and laceless versions of the silo. The big question is, Nike or adidas?
Last up is the most nonchalant player around, Michael Olise. This guy is always the coolest man in the room and his boot choices back this. Anyone who knows football knows Olise is practically the face of the high collar hypervenoms these days – always matching perfectly with each kit. So satisfying. But maybe his hypervenom era isn't enough anymore, as he has been spotted in a variety of different boots in recent weeks. Now it could just be that the French star is just mixing it up, but he has been spotted in both Nike Phantom Luna's and an unreleased white-out prototype of mid-collar F50's. On top of this, he also turned heads with some serious nostalgia, donning a pair of classic F50 Tunit boots that looked absolutely unreal. It would be surprising to see Olise move away from the hypervenoms, especially with heavy rumours of a re-release of the OG model, and let's be honest – it looks so clean.
Keep an eye on our pages to find out more info on these players...
