Herzogenaurach, germany, february 18, 2021
PUMA SIGNS WORLD CUP WINNER AND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RECORD BREAKER RAPHAËL VARANE
Global sports company PUMA has signed a long-term partnership with Real Madrid and France national team star Raphaël Varane. As one of the fastest defenders in world football, Varane will step into the PUMA ULTRA silo, PUMA’s lightweight speed boot.  

Having made waves as one of the best defensive prospects in football, Varane made his international debut at just 19 years old, going on to make over 70 appearances for his country. He represented France in both the 2014 World Cup, where he was nominated for the Best Young Player award, and the 2018 World Cup, playing in every minute of every game en route to France’s victory.

 

“Raphaël Varane is a fantastic signing for us”, said Johan Adamsson, Global Director of Sports Marketing and Sports Licensing at PUMA. “He has achieved so much in the game at just 27 years old. He is technically gifted, in combination with great speed and strength and is considered one of the best defenders in the game today.”

Following the announcement Varane spoke about his excitement in joining the PUMA family and his goals for the future.

 

I am delighted to join the PUMA family at this stage of my career and during a very exciting time for the brand“, said Raphaël Varane. “PUMA felt like a natural fit for me and I am thrilled to join the home to some of the greatest players in football history. I feel we share many common values, in particular PUMA’s outlook on sustainability, which opens up the possibilities of working together in areas beyond just football.”

Varane made his professional debut for Lens at 17 years old before making over 300 appearances for Real Madrid. He has won an incredible 18 major trophies at club level, including three LaLiga titles, one Copa Del Rey, four Champions Leagues and four Club World Cups. At just 24 years of age, Varane won the Champions League title for the third time, becoming the youngest player to achieve such a feat.

herzogenaurach, germany, march 23, 2021
INTRODUCING THE NEW WAVE: PUMA SIGNS ‘SPEED KING’ KINGSLEY COMAN
Global sports company PUMA has signed a long-term partnership with FC Bayern München and France star Kingsley Coman. A leader of his generation, Kingsley is one of the most exciting and explosive wingers in world football. He has registered a top speed of 35.68 km/h in the Bundesliga this season making him one of the fastest players in the league so he will naturally step into the ULTRA – PUMA’s next-gen speed boot silo.

Kingsley had a truly remarkable 2019/20 season with FC Bayern München as they captured the continental treble for the second time in the club’s history, becoming only the second team in Europe to achieve such a feat. Kingsley crowned off the season by scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, taking home the man of the match award in the process. Kingsley now ushers in an exciting new wave with PUMA.

“Kingsley Coman is a special talent and one of the best young players in the world today. He has explosive speed, acceleration and exceptional technical ability”, said Johan Adamsson, Global Director of Sports Marketing and Sports Licensing at PUMA. “Kingsley is a star and we are extremely happy to welcome him to the PUMA family. He has won a wealth of trophies already at such a young age and we see an even more exciting future ahead of him.“

Having made his debut at just 16, Kingsley became PSG’s youngest ever player. After bursting onto the world stage Kingsley has won nine straight league titles, winning the league in every season of his career. Adding to his impressive haul, Kingsley has won 11 domestic cups, the UEFA Supercup, FIFA Club World Cup and the Champions League, during his time at FC Bayern München, PSG and Juventus.

Following the announcement Kingsley spoke about his decision to join the PUMA family and his goals for the future.

“I am very happy to join the PUMA family. I love their vision for football, and their plans for me are very exciting”, said Kingsley Coman. “Like me PUMA are about speed and a big priority for me was the boots. The ULTRA boots are a perfect fit for me. In the future I want to achieve great things with PUMA in our collaboration. I am excited about what we have planned on and off the pitch, giving me a platform to express myself outside of football too.”

Kingsley made his senior international debut on November 13th, 2015 in a victory against the then World Champions Germany. He was subsequently selected for UEFA Euro 2016 and following a number of stellar performances, he was nominated for the Young Player of the Tournament award. Kingsley has since earned 20 caps for France, scoring 5 goals as he now sets his sights on this summer’s European Championships.

herzogenaurach, germany, march 19, 2021
SHE’S BACK. SARA BJÖRK RETURNED TO ELITE LEVEL FOOTBALL THIS WEEKEND FOLLOWING THE BIRTH OF HER CHILD

Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir has defied the odds and battled through many hurdles to make her long awaited return to elite level football this weekend when Olympique Lyonnais faced Dijon in Ligue 1 Féminine.

An extraordinary four months after giving birth to her son, Sara returned to the pitch to crown off an incredible journey that has seen her achieve the goal she had set herself when she first learned of her pregnancy.

Back in September of 2021, Sara began working closely with PUMA to document her journey as she prepared to give birth and attempt to return to elite level sport. The journey has featured blogs and social content amplified through PUMA’s ‘She Moves Us’ platform to raise more awareness of the difficulties female athlete’s still face when becoming pregnant.

Many athletes encounter challenges and uncertainty over their careers when faced with the prospect of pregnancy. Many athletes struggle due to lack or support with early retirement a reality for most. Due to the stigma and issues female athletes have faced, Sara wanted to inspire a generation of female athletes to not give up on their dreams and to push for change at all levels to help athletes who want to start a family and return to play at the highest level.

Sara’s journey will culminate in the release of a special documentary later in 2022. The short film will give unprecedented access to Sara’s story and give insight to the challenges female athletes face when deciding to start a family. 

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Herzogenaurach, Germany, April 8, 2022
PUMA signs multi-year deal with Brazilian Athletics Federation
Global sports company PUMA has signed a multi-year contract with the Brazilian Confederation of Athletics (CBAt) effective July 2022, that will see Brazilian athletic teams in PUMA apparel for the first time at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA, this summer. The partnership includes sponsoring 24 adult and youth teams, including male and female athletes.

“We are very proud to partner up with the Brazilian Confederation of Athletics, which is the first time ever that PUMA sponsors a Brazilian national sports team, so it will be a landmark.” said Fabio Kadow, Marketing Director PUMA Brazil. “Their successful track record in world class athletics, with 19 Olympic medals, makes this partnership a perfect fit for PUMA.”

"Partnering with PUMA is a huge responsibility for us and a source of great pride”, said Wlamir Motta Campos, CBAt´s president. “I'm sure the athletics community will embrace PUMA, because we're talking about a product of excellence, a fantastic technology that will help the performance of our athletes."

PUMA has a long and rich history in Track & Field, having sponsored the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association since 2002. The brand also kits out several national federations including Cuba, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Dominican Republic, Norway, Switzerland, Portugal and South Africa. Individual PUMA sponsored athletes include World Champion 400m hurdler Karsten Warholm, pole vault star Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, triple Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse, long distance runner and Olympic medalist Molly Seidel, and triple jumpers Patricia Marmona and Will Claye.

Herzogenaurach, Germany, May 3, 2022
Rossoneri wear RE:JERSEY – AC Milan players don special PUMA jerseys as part of innovative recycling project
The players of AC Milan wore special jerseys before the start of their Serie A match against Fiorentina on Sunday, which were made with an innovative garment-to-garment recycling method as part of PUMA’s RE:JERSEY project. AC Milan’s women’s team will also wear the jerseys ahead of the Serie A match against Inter FC on May 7.

With RE:JERSEY, PUMA aims to reduce waste and pave the way towards more circular production models in the future. Sustainability is also a key value for AC Milan, which has committed to sustainable and social responsibility initiatives, with a particular focus on younger generations.

While PUMA’s football kits on the market today are already made from 100% recycled polyester, the RE:JERSEY shirts worn ahead of Sunday’s game are made with 75% repurposed football jerseys. The remaining 25% comes from SEAQUAL ® MARINE PLASTIC[1].

“We are excited that AC Milan has joined us to be a part of the RE:JERSEY project,” said Matthias Baeumer, General Manager BU Teamsport at PUMA. “As we want to take more responsibility when it comes to the end of life of our products, RE:JERSEY is an important step in garment-to-garment recycling.”

In the recycling process used for the RE:JERSEY project, even old garments that feature logos, embroideries and club badges can be used, as the material is chemically broken down into its main components (depolymerization). Colors are then filtered out and the material is chemically put back together to create a yarn (repolymerization) that has the same performance characteristics as virgin polyester.

As part of the project, AC MILAN and PUMA will set up collection bins, where fans will be able to donate their old polyester items, which will be used for the RE:JERSEY project.“

AC Milan is a Club that truly believes in the social value of football. Sustainability is an important value for all of us at the Club, we need to do our part to protect the future of our planet, so we are delighted to join this initiative with our partner PUMA and be part of the RE:JERSEY project,” said Casper Stylsvig, Chief Revenue Officer at AC Milan.

 

 

[1] SEAQUAL ® MARINE PLASTIC
SEAQUAL® MARINE PLASTIC is a sustainable and fully traceable raw material from SEAQUAL INITIATIVE that is made from marine litter, or in some cases from end-of-life fishing nets or other plastics used in aquaculture (such as those used in mussel and oyster farming). For more information, visit https://www.seaqual.org

Herzogenaurach, Germany, May 11, 2022
“Not having fun is a waste of time!” - PUMA CEO Bjørn Gulden and Giorgio Chiellini talk about leadership
PUMA CEO Bjørn Gulden and Giorgio Chiellini, who captained the Italian national football team to success at Euro2020, talked about their careers, outstanding leadership skills and the importance of having fun, in a video interview published as part of the sports company’s annual report.

In a professional career that spans more than 20 years, Giorgio Chiellini made more than 420 appearances for his club, Juventus, and became one of the most capped players in the history of Italy’s national team. 2021 was an extremely emotional year for him, as he won Euro2020 with Italy.

“I shared my feelings with my teammates and with the people at home in front of their TV screens. This was probably the secret of my performance,” he said. “I wanted to enjoy and celebrate all the emotions the tournament brings with it.”

In 2021, PUMA recorded its best-ever performance both in terms of revenues and operating profit. Bjørn Gulden, who also started out as a professional football player, said that leadership was a very complex topic and it depended on each person individually.

“You need to find your way and see that your style has an impression on people,” he said. “Giorgio’s attitude as a leader inspires me. You can see, when he’s on the pitch, he makes the other ten players better and that’s the job of a leader.”

When it comes to attitude, both agreed that having fun is crucial to stay motivated in the long term:

Not having fun is a waste of time. You spend most of your time at work. I strongly believe that if you like what you do, you perform better,” said Bjørn Gulden.

At 37 years old, Giorgio Chiellini says he wishes he had realized the power of a positive attitude earlier.

“I managed to change my state of mind during my career (…) Now I can pay more attention to the situation than I used to when I was angry or yelled at my teammates. I lost a lot of energy on the pitch like that,” Giorgio Chiellini said.

For the full video interview, please visit PUMA’s 2021 annual report by visiting https://annual-report.puma.com/2021/en/.

Somerville, Massachusetts, May 20, 2022
PUMA WELCOMES TOP WNBA PICK NALYSSA SMITH TO THE PUMA HOOPS FAMILY
Today, global sports company PUMA has announced the signing of the No. 2 overall pick from the 2022 WNBA draft NaLyssa Smith to its basketball roster.

“I am thrilled to be joining the PUMA Hoops family and to rock PUMA both on and off the court,” said Smith. “PUMA’s dedication to being a champion for women athletes along with being disruptive in the basketball sneaker space mixing sport innovation with style made this a perfect fit for me. I couldn’t be more excited to start my rookie season being part of such an iconic brand and joining an incredible roster of PUMA Hoops athletes.”

Smith graduated from Baylor in 2021, where she gained numerous accolades including the 2021 Wade Trophy Winner, 2021 All-American first team, 2019 NCAA Champion, and 2018 McDonald’s All American. She started her rookie season earlier this May with the Indiana Fever adding her talents to PUMA’s roster of young WBNA and NBA athletes including LaMelo Ball, Breanna Stewart, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Deandre Ayton, Katie Lou Samuelson, RJ Barrett and more.

The signing comes as PUMA continues its commitment to pushing women’s sports forward. In partnership with PUMA Hoops Creative Director June Ambrose, the brand officially launched its Women’s Hoops category in December 2021 with a basketball-inspired lifestyle collection, PUMA High Court, coached and designed by June Ambrose.

In 2020, PUMA launched the SHE MOVES US platform, this year PUMA expanded the SHE MOVES US platform with a focus on its top female sports ambassadors, celebrating the women who have moved sports forward to inspire other women around the world. Smith will be featured in PUMA Hoops campaigns and product launches tied to SHE MOVES US.

Herzogenaurach, Germany, May 27, 2022
PUMA and Borussia Mönchengladbach extend partnership

Sports company PUMA and German football club Borussia Mönchengladbach have signed a new long-term contract to extend their partnership which started in 2018.

PUMA will continue to equip all men’s, women’s and youth teams with jerseys, training apparel and accessories and will remain the club’s official partner for replica jerseys and fanwear.

PUMA and Borussia Mönchengladbach already worked together from the 1960s until 1992, a very successful period in the club’s history in which the team won eight titles (five German league titles, two UEFA Cups and one DFB Cup).

“PUMA and Borussia Mönchengladbach share a long, successful history, which we revived in 2018,” says PUMA CEO Bjørn Gulden. “We are happy that we will continue this partnership in the coming years, witness great football moments and create products that the fans love.”

Over the past years, PUMA and Borussia Mönchengladbach presented exciting collections and special editions, such as a stylish black jersey to mark the 120th anniversary of the club in 2020.

For the next Bundesliga season 2022/23, PUMA once again blends the club’s history with the present, presenting a traditional white jersey with a central black and green pattern in a classic style.

“Already in 2018, people at Borussia were euphoric to have PUMA back. The joy is even bigger now that we were able to agree an early and long-term extension of the current partnership,” said Stephan Schippers, CEO of VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach. “Our club has celebrated big successes with PUMA by its side. PUMA and Borussia belong together.

Herzogenaurach, Germany, June 29, 2022
PUMA AND AC MILAN ANNOUNCE A LONG-TERM EXTENSION OF THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND WILL LAUNCH THE “PUMA HOUSE OF FOOTBALL” TRAINING CENTER

Global sports company PUMA and AC Milan have announced a long-term extension of their partnership, which was first established in 2018. PUMA will continue as the Principal Partner of AC Milan, the Global Technical Supplier, and the Official Licensed Partner.

AC Milan recently returned to the top of Italian football with the youngest team in modern history to win the Scudetto and is also one of the youngest teams in Europe. As part of the extension PUMA will become the official naming partner of AC Milan’s core in Vismara Center, the base of the Club’s future talents and women’s team. “PUMA House of Football” will become a home for performance development that will see investment in the next generation of youth players at Milan and help support women’s football. The center will also be home to brand and community activations, hosting partnership events and key initiatives in the city.

PUMA and AC Milan are two of the most innovative and progressive brands in football. The partnership is built on the foundations of performance and sustainability through innovative apparel and environmentally friendly products, football culture, fashion, youth development and continued investment in women’s football.

Under the new terms, PUMA will continue to supply performance apparel for the men’s, women’s, and youth teams, and utilize the style, fashion, and culture of Milan to develop performance and off-pitch lifestyle product that taps into the unique Milanese style. This will see both brands continue to collaborate beyond the pitch on innovative and fashionable collections that connect with football culture and reinforce Milan’s global footprint.

“This is a fantastic next step for our partnership with AC Milan, two brands with a focus on diversity, inclusivity, innovation, performance and football culture,” said Bjørn Gulden, Chief Executive Officer, PUMA. “Our aim is to drive performance innovation and lifestyle apparel on and off pitch. We want to continue to be two of the most sustainable brands in football and support women’s football. This partnership will also see PUMA invest in the Vismara Performance Center. This will be a special place to develop future stars at AC Milan and bring both our brands closer together.”

“We are immensely proud to continue on this journey with our long-standing partner PUMA, our Principal Partner since 2018. Over the years, working side by side with PUMA has allowed us to build a solid and authentic partnership based on performance, football culture and shared values, always with a progressive approach,” commented Ivan Gazidis, AC Milan CEO. “We are excited to start this new chapter in our relationship, which will focus strongly on the development of women’s football and the next generation of talent, both of which are perfectly aligned with our vision for the Club.”

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Herzogenaurach, Germany, July 1, 2022
PUMA signs Serbian YouTuber djotafreestyle as a brand ambassador
Sports company PUMA has signed Serbian football freestyler and YouTuber Nikola Djota Milošević, better known as djotafreestyle, as a brand ambassador.

With more than 1.1 million followers on YouTube and more than 700,000 on Instagram, Djota has a large fan base across Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia for whom he produces regular video updates about football, training, lifestyle and travel.

Djotafreestyle’s knowledge of the game and freestyle skills have also earned him the respect of other professional footballers in his home country, who regularly appear in his videos.

The combination of sports, training and lifestyle makes djotafreestyle a great match for PUMA to reach young and sports-savvy audiences across several growth markets in the Balkans.

Djotafreestyle will wear PUMA’s football and training products in his videos and instragram posts.

Dubai, UAE, June 1st, 2023
PUMA and Al Hilal FC announce groundbreaking new partnership set to transform football in Saudi Arabia

The two global icons join forces in an official sponsorship agreement for the upcoming 2023-2024 season.

PUMA, one of the world’s leading sports brands, has announced its official five-year sponsorship with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal FC, one of the world’s most decorated football clubs. 

The groundbreaking partnership unites the two global giants as they come together to transform the country’s thriving and passionate football culture with dynamic new initiatives and products.

PUMA will design unique bespoke team wear and training equipment using its signature ULTRAWEAVE technology for both the Al-Hilal men and women’s football teams starting the 2024-2025 season. The partnership marks PUMA’s continued expansion into football, meeting the region’s ever-growing passion for the game with the Arab World’s most celebrated and successful football club.

Commenting on the partnership, The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Hilal Club Mr. Fahad Bin Saad Bin Nafel said: “We’re delighted about this new partnership with PUMA until 2027. The long-term nature of this agreement means both parties are committed to work together with a strong focus on bringing global exposure for the team as well as developing new campaigns and initiatives which place our communities in the spotlight. We are excited to start our journey together with PUMA being the first in the region with our very own bespoke kit designs and we believe that this partnership will set a new benchmark for Saudi football.”

PUMA Middle East GM, Taner Seyis, added: “The partnership we signed with Al-Hilal provides new opportunities with one of the world’s most passionate football fanbases, in a market that is seeing unprecedented growth and dynamism across all industries. We are committed to working together with Al-Hilal, in the Kingdom and globally, to deliver impact both on and off the pitch.”

As part of the partnership, we will see both organizations working together to provide long-term initiatives for Saudi youth, connect with local communities, and create exclusive PUMA product ranges to the delight of fans across the Kingdom and the globe. 

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Herzogenaurach, Germany, June 1, 2023
PUMA AND AC MILAN CELEBRATE THE CITY OF MILAN WITH THE NEW 2023/24 HOME JERSEY

Global sports company PUMA has today unveiled their striking new AC Milan Home kit for the 2023/24 season, designed to bring the team, the city, and its passionate community even closer.

Inspired by the city of Milan and the unstoppable spirit of its people, the new AC Milan Home jersey reinvents the traditional Red and Black stripes – a symbol of the Rossoneri brand, which contributed to making the Club iconic with sports fans around the world. The innovative design introduces a repeat tonal graphic that celebrates the vibrant energy of the city, the enduring legacy of the Club, and its central role within an evolving community that’s always looking forward. That’s the Milan way.

The unique new stripes create a repeat ‘M’ visual in the centre of the jersey through the tonal stripes that represent the city of Milan and the progressive nature of the Club. The jersey also features a clean black V-neck collar with black sleeve cuffs and trims and proudly displays ‘AC MILAN’ in bold across the back of the neck. 

To accompany the launch of the new Home kit, PUMA and AC Milan unveiled a new video featuring the captain of the men’s team, Davide Calabria, alongside Olivier Giroud, Rafael Leão, Mike Maignan Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori, and Charles De Ketelaere. The video also includes AC Milan women’s team players, Kosovare Asllani and Nesrien Bahlouli. The video highlights the main element of the new jersey design in which the ‘M’ serves as a link between the Club and the city. Iconic elements of the city appear in the video, illuminated by red and black lights to symbolize the passion for AC Milan worldwide.

Casper Stylsvig, Chief Revenue Officer at AC Milan, commented: The Rossoneri jersey has always been the emblem of the DNA of our Club and of our fans. A symbol of passion capable of going beyond the playing field, expressing a sense of belonging and style on the pitch, in the stands, and in the lives of all the fans, transcending into a lifestyle icon. Today, more than ever, with the launch of this new Home kit, we reaffirm our bond with the city of Milan, celebrating its vibrant energy and the attitude of its citizens, who embody the innovative and progressive spirit of this fantastic city.”

"We are incredibly proud of our partnership with AC Milan and the kit for the upcoming season. The design is reflective of PUMA’s mission to forever evolve sportswear, and it embodies AC Milan’s progressive spirit. This jersey is more than a kit; it’s a symbol of unity and forward momentum for the team, the city, and its loyal supporters," said Marco Mueller, PUMA Senior Head of Product Line Management Teamsport Apparel.

The new jersey features cutting-edge technology to provide optimal performance and comfort on the pitch. Engineered with ULTRAWEAVE fabric, the kit boasts a structured, 4-way stretch design that reduces weight and friction, allowing players to move freely and comfortably. The dryCELL technology integrated into the fabric is designed to keep your body free from sweat.

The Replica version is made with 100% recycled polyester and equipped with dryCELL sweat-wicking technology to keep you dry and comfortable throughout the 90 minutes and beyond – no matter the time, pitch or place. Both jerseys are made with 100% recycled materials, excluding the trims and decorations as a step toward a better future.

Celebrate the City of Milan with the 2023/24 AC Milan Home kit available from June 1st at PUMA stores, PUMA .com, the AC Milan store at the AC Milan Stadium, store.acmilan.com and at select retailers worldwide.

AC Milan will debut the new Home kit on June 4th in their Serie A fixture against Hellas Verona FC. 

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