PUMA rolled out the full VIP treatment for their latest signing as Leicester City and England's James Maddison was picked up in a private jet and flown out to the brand's headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, to put pen to paper on his first contract with the brand.
The Leicester midfielder has torn up the Premier League since his arrival from Norwich last summer and it's that form and prolific hit rate from set pieces that has seen him break into Gareth Southgate's England squad. But it's not just the Three Lions' boss that has been impressed with Maddsion, after tracking the midfielder for a number of months, PUMA have captured their man just as his profile is rising at a rapid rate.
Touching down on German soil, Maddison was taken on a private tour of the iconic PUMA HQ in Herzogenaurach to meet the designers of his new boots, the creative minds behind the brand, and the team that have worked to ensure Maddison will return to the Premier League as an official PUMA athlete wearing the PUMA ONE 19.1 football boots.
Emerging himself in the history of his new brand, Maddison was also taken through the prestigious PUMA archives that have served legendary players such as Pele, Maradona and Lothar Matthaus. The Herzo base has been PUMA's home since the formation of the brand in 1948 when Rudolf Dassler went his own way after a fall out with his brother, who pitched up camp on the other side of the river. That's a different story entirely. For Maddison he'll be joining the fastest growing squad in world football right now, as PUMA continue their recruitment drive with impressive results.
With the tour of HQ done, Maddison was taken through the brand's upcoming boot releases for 2019 before heading to the PUMA labs to have his boots made-to-measure. Laser prints were taken of his feet to ensure that every single pair of his PUMA ONE 19.1 boots are designed to his exact specifications, as is standard protocol for all PUMA contracted players, including Sergio Aguero, Marco Reus and David Silva, all of whom have sat in the same customisation chair as Maddison.
Contract signed, introductions made and feet measured, Maddison made one final stop in the colossal PUMA outlet store to stock up on the latest PUMA lifestyle and performance wear before heading back to England. What's the hand luggage limit on a private jet?
Shop the PUMA ONE 19.1 and Future 19.1 football boot collections at prodirectsoccer.com
