Video: Leeds United announce major new kit deal with Kappa

LEEDS UNITED have announced a major five-year deal with Italian sportswear giant Kappa to become the club’s new kit provider from the 2015-16 season onwards.
By Leon Wobschall
Published 17th Jun 2015, 01:00 BST
Leeds United have announced five-year kit deal with Kappa. Adam Pearson is pictured with Mark Ward of Kappa UK. Picture: Simon Hulme.Leeds United have announced five-year kit deal with Kappa. Adam Pearson is pictured with Mark Ward of Kappa UK. Picture: Simon Hulme.
Leeds United have announced five-year kit deal with Kappa. Adam Pearson is pictured with Mark Ward of Kappa UK. Picture: Simon Hulme.

The deal will see Kappa supply kits and training wear for the first team, development squad and all academy age groups as well as introducing large-scale branding within Elland Road.

The new home kit will be unveiled at an exclusive Elland Road event for season-ticket holders on July 9 and Uwe Rosler’s side will wear the strip for the first time in their pre-season friendly at Harrogate Town the following evening.

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The classic all-white kit will officially be launched in the Elland Road superstore the next morning (July 11).

Leeds United have announced five-year kit deal with Kappa. Adam Pearson is pictured with Mark Ward of Kappa UK. Picture: Simon Hulme.Leeds United have announced five-year kit deal with Kappa. Adam Pearson is pictured with Mark Ward of Kappa UK. Picture: Simon Hulme.
Leeds United have announced five-year kit deal with Kappa. Adam Pearson is pictured with Mark Ward of Kappa UK. Picture: Simon Hulme.

United chairman Massimo Cellino said: “We are very happy that Kappa will be working with Leeds United for the next five years.

“I already appreciate how hard Kappa have worked with us to get things ready for the new season in such a short space of time since they first came to Leeds.”

Executive director Adam Pearson said that the financial details of the deal would “stay between both parties”, but he said that it was an “extremely competitive deal” for the club.

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Pearson confirmed that the kit will have no major sponsor with the deal ending the club’s association with previous shirt supplier Macron.

Leeds United have announced five-year kit deal with Kappa. Adam Pearson is pictured with Mark Ward of Kappa UK. Picture: Simon Hulme.Leeds United have announced five-year kit deal with Kappa. Adam Pearson is pictured with Mark Ward of Kappa UK. Picture: Simon Hulme.
Leeds United have announced five-year kit deal with Kappa. Adam Pearson is pictured with Mark Ward of Kappa UK. Picture: Simon Hulme.

Pearson said that the club’s legal team were dealing with Macron and sponsor Enterprise Insurance.

He said: “It is an ongoing debate and one that for many reasons, I am not able to comment on.

“But hopefully, it will be settled to everybody’s satisfaction and we obviously had the go-ahead with the new manufacturer.”

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Back in April, the club’s latest accounts revealed that the club were facing a legal claim of around £5m from Macron.

United’s results for the 2013-14 financial year said they were in “contractual dispute” with Macron, the Italian sportswear firm which has supplied their kit since 2008.

Macron’s deal with Leeds - a six-year agreement signed in 2010 - was due to end next summer.

According to the accounts, Macron was claiming £2.15m “allegedly owed” to the company and was also seeking damages of between £2.5m and £3.5m.

The claim against Leeds was made in November of last year.

United’s accounts stated that a club solicitor “believes that it is unlikely that the claim will be successful.”

Related topics:Adam PearsonElland RoadHarrogate Town