The Premier League has confirmed it will end its 25-year partnership with Nike, replacing its match ball supplier with Puma starting next season.
The decision brings England’s top flight in line with La Liga and Serie A.
The switch will officially debut during the Premier League Summer Series in the United States this July, before being introduced for the 2025-26 campaign.
The change is aimed at improving consistency across competitions, but the move has already reignited debate over the characteristics of Puma’s ball, with Mikel Arteta being framed as ‘hating’ it.
Premier League turns to Puma ball hated by Arteta The Premier League is to end its 25- year association with Nike after announcing a deal with Puma to provide match balls from next season — despite Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, blaming their Carabao Cup balls for his players missing chances. The new ball will be unveiled for the Premier League’s Summer Series in the United States in July. Puma balls are also used in Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A. Arteta made his comments about the Puma ball after Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat by Newcastle United in January, saying: “I think we kicked a lot of the balls over the bar and it’s tricky that this ball flies a lot. It’s just very different to the Premier League ball and it flies different.”
The Times 18 March 2025
Following Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle United earlier this year, Arteta was asked directly about his players’ missed chances and noted how the ball felt significantly different from the one used in Premier League fixtures. “I think we kicked a lot of the balls over the bar and it’s tricky that this ball flies a lot. It’s just very different to the Premier League ball and it flies differently,” Arteta explained.
However, reports suggesting that he ‘blamed’ the ball for Arsenal’s loss were widely exaggerated, overlooking his broader assessment of his team’s failure to take their chances.
Arteta blames ball for Arsenal horror show Manager says ‘very different flight’ caused missed chances Gordon hails Newcastle hero Isak as best striker in Europe The Daily Telegraph8 Jan 2025By Sam Dean at the Emirates Stadium Game of frustration: Gabriel Martinelli reacts to a missed Arsenal chance in last night’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg defeat, as Mikel Arteta (below) looks on Mikel Arteta said his Arsenal players failed to adapt to the different flight of the Carabao Cup ball as they missed a series of clear goalscoring chances in their 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle United. Arsenal mustered 23 shots in the semi-final first leg but could not convert any, with Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz all producing dreadful misses. Arteta said Newcastle were “super efficient” in front of goal, as they struck through Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, and that his players were not. Asked what he could do to help his players convert chances, Arteta added: “Just try and show them, give them kicks or tips of what they can do better. We also kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it’s tricky that these balls fly a lot, so there’s details that we can do better.” Pressed about the issues with the ball, which is made by Puma as opposed to the Nike Premier League ball, Arteta said: “It’s just different. Very different to a Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies differently, when you touch it the grip is very different as well, so you adapt to that.” The second leg of this semi-final is not until early February. Arsenal hope to have more attacking options after a series of injuries and illness issues. One of their biggest challenges will be stopping Isak, who was described by Gordon as the best striker in Europe. “I think so,” Gordon said when asked if Isak was the top striker on the continent. “I think everyone is in agreement with that. He’s on fire.” Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe admitted his team were fortunate to keep Arsenal out. “I think we rode our luck at times. Our mentality to defend our goal with the blocked shots, the heroic pieces of defending in the last 20 to 30 minutes, it’s great for us for the future.” Article Name:Arteta blames ball for Arsenal horror show Publication:The Daily Telegraph Author:By Sam Dean at the Emirates Stadium Start Page:1 End Page:1
Arteta blames ball for Arsenal horror show The Daily Telegraph 8 Jan 2025 by Sam Dean
The Daily Telegraph, in particular, came under fire for misrepresenting Arteta’s remarks, reducing his nuanced response to a headline implying he had scapegoated the ball. They created such a fuss that the EFL released a statement about the ball, embarrassing themselves into the bargain.
In reality, the Arsenal manager was clear that his side simply had to adapt. “It’s just different. Very different to a Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies differently. When you touch it, the grip is very different as well, so you adapt to that.”
You’ll note that part of the quote was also missing from today’s article in the Times above.
With the transition now confirmed, Premier League clubs will have time to adjust during pre-season, but as Arteta indicated, players will need to quickly adapt to the new ball’s characteristics.
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