Things have not gone as planned for sportswear giant Nike in recent months. The brand has witnessed an exodus of athletes from its Golf division, including the loss of the iconic Tiger Woods who severed his ties with the brand this Monday. Their close rivals, Adidas, have used this as an opportunity to land another blow on their rivals. The brand has banked on Cristiano Ronaldo‘s growing hype in the Saudi Pro League, securing a big deal with the Middle Eastern League.

Tiger Woods pulled the curtain on his two-and-a-half-decade-long partnership with Nike. The iconic golfer signed his first deal with the brand back in 1996. Nike, following their decision to go separate ways, paid tribute to their longtime partner with a heartwarming message on social media.

Adidas announces a new ball deal with the Saudi Pro League

In a massive turn of events, Adidas will become the Saudi Pro League’s official ball supplier starting in February 2024. The two also introduced the ball for the remaining half of the season, with teams set to play with the Adidas ‘Oceaunz’ ball till May 2024. The deal will also see the brand introduce an exclusive match ball for the league’s 2024/25 season with an upgraded color patch.

SPL’s interim CEO Saad Allazeez talked about the deal during the media scrum, stating, “Our partnership with Adidas represents a significant next step towards elevating football in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration can help reshape the Kingdom’s football landscape and we’re excited to be working closely with Adidas moving forward.”

It will be interesting to see what’s next for the sportswear brand following their blockbuster deal. The new partnership is also a colossal blow for their competitor, Nike, who lost one of their biggest partners this Monday.

READ MORE: After Tiger Woods’ Exit, Nike Suffer Another Blow as Puma Readies Deal to Replace Them as FC Barcelona’s Kit Sponsors

Nike pays tribute to Tiger Woods

The rumors finally ended last Monday as Nike and Tiger Woods announced their split following a twenty-seven-year-old partnership. Woods thanked the brand in his social media post, thanking them for all the memories.

The brand was quick to respond to the post as they put up an official tribute for the player on their Instagram handle. Nike, in their message, stated, “Tiger, you challenged your competition, stereotypes, conventions, the old school way of thinking. You challenged the entire institution of golf. You challenged us. And most of all, yourself. And for that challenge, we’re grateful.”

Woods is not the first golfer to leave Nike in the past few months. Golfers Matt Wolf and Jason Day also ended their partnership with the brand in recent months. However, it seems like Nike is not too shaken by the setbacks and wants to find their way back into the space.

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