Hertha BSC and Nike End 26-Year Kit Partnership.

Roger Hampel

Photo Credit: Hertha BSC

Hertha BSC has officially confirmed the end of its long-standing partnership with Nike, bringing to a close one of the most enduring kit supply relationships in German football. The collaboration, which began in 1999, will formally conclude at the end of the 2024/25 season.

The 26-year alliance is one of the longest-lasting kit deals in Bundesliga history, spanning a period marked by promotions, relegations, stadium evolution, and shifting commercial dynamics within the sport.

A Partnership That Spanned Eras Hertha BSC Nike 26

When Nike first partnered with Hertha BSC in 1999, the club was reestablishing itself in the Bundesliga. Over the next two and a half decades, the iconic Nike Swoosh became a constant presence on Hertha’s match kits, fan merchandise, and branding across Berlin.

From a commercial perspective, the partnership represented a rare level of stability in a market where most kit deals are renegotiated every five to seven years. Nike’s support covered not only apparel, but also youth development programs, branding activations, and local community initiatives.

The deal also offered Hertha BSC global visibility, aligning the club with a sportswear giant that was simultaneously growing its footprint in European football.

Brand Legacy and Cultural Identity

Throughout the partnership, the Hertha shirt became more than just a kit — it emerged as a symbol of Berlin football culture, worn by generations of fans in the capital and beyond. In an official statement, club management emphasized that the Nike logo on the chest was a “piece of Hertha’s history.”

While Hertha BSC’s on-pitch fortunes have fluctuated, the kit designs — particularly the club’s distinctive blue-and-white vertical stripes — often served as markers of identity and continuity during periods of sporting instability.

End of an Era, Opportunity for Reinvention

The conclusion of the Nike partnership leaves Hertha BSC with a significant opportunity to reshape its visual and commercial identity. As the club looks ahead to announcing a new kit supplier for the 2025/26 season, the move also opens up new sponsorship, design, and merchandising pathways.

In a statement, Thomas E. Herrich, Hertha BSC’s CEO, thanked Nike for their trust and professionalism across nearly three decades of cooperation, noting that the partnership had “written history together.”

Strategic Takeaway in the Football Kit Market

Hertha’s split with Nike reflects a broader recalibration across the football apparel sponsorship space, where clubs are increasingly seeking:

• More flexible commercial terms

• Greater control over branding and product design

• Integrated merchandising strategies tailored to regional fanbases

  
  

At the same time, global brands like Nike continue to refine their club portfolios in Europe, often concentrating on elite teams with global fanbases. The end of the Hertha-Nike deal reflects both of these dynamics — a natural evolution driven by strategic repositioning on both sides. Hertha BSC and Nike End 26-Year Kit Partnership.