Photos by Reuters and AP Images.
- Raheem Sterling has been offered a $120 million deal from Nike Air Jordan to become one of the first soccer players to endorse the brand, reports The Telegraph.
- The deal would see the Manchester City star become one of the shoe brand’s highest paid athletes, ahead of NBA starlet Zion Williamson.
- Williamson himself signed a seven-year, $75-million deal with Air Jordan in July, just weeks after being drafted to the New Orleans Pelicans.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Raheem Sterling has been offered a $120 million deal from Nike Air Jordan to become one of the first ever soccer players to endorse the brand’s boots, and the contract would see him earn more than NBA starlet Zion Williamson.
The Telegraph reports Sterling is contemplating an offer from the iconic shoe label with his current boot deal, also with Nike, set to come to an end later this year.
Should Sterling accept, he’d become one of Air Jordan’s highest paid athletes, ahead of basketball prodigy Zion Williamson.
Williamson, who was first pick of the 2019 NBA draft, signed a seven-year, $75-million deal with Air Jordan in July, just weeks after being snapped up by New Orleans Pelicans.
The deal for the 6-foot-7, 19-year-old forward, was the most lucrative shoe deal for a rookie in NBA history, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Other high profile athletes signed to Air Jordan include NBA duo Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook, as well as MLB star Mookie Betts.
Read more: The president of the Toronto Raptors told us how he turned a losing team into 2019 NBA champions
Sterling has established himself as one of the Europe’s stand-out players over the last two seasons, chipping in 35 goals and 21 assists in the Premier League alone to help Pep Guardiola’s side claim back-to-back titles.
The 24-year-old forward has also made an huge impact off the field through his work to help tackle racism in soccer.
Sterling was racially abused by a Chelsea fan at Stamford Bridge last season, and spoke out by calling for stricter punishments on offenders and clubs involved in such incidents.
Sterling also criticized the British media for their portrayal of young black football players, saying "it helps fuel racism and aggressive behaviour."
Manchester City is back in Premier League action on August 17 against Tottenham Hotspur, where Sterling will be hoping to add to his opening day hat-trick versus West Ham United.
NOW WATCH: Swayze Valentine is the only female treating fighters’ cuts and bruises inside the UFC octagon
See Also:
- Zinedine Zidane will come grovelling back to Gareth Bale when he needs him to rescue Real Madrid’s season, the Welshman’s former coach says
- PSG fans are telling Neymar to get out of the club, but match-winner Kylian Mbappe says the team still needs him
- A $73 million American who is only 20 years old appears destined to set the English Premier League ablaze
Source: Business Insider – blane@businessinsider.com (Barnaby Lane)