Chelsea announced an extension to their partnership with adidas earlier today, confirming that the two were shacking up for another ten years. Although the finances weren't mentioned at the time, it was a prime chance to spring back ahead of the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United in the kit manufacturer money table. Did the Blues take it?
Apparently so. The AP are reporting that the deal is worth almost £300 million over the next decade. That puts Chelsea right back in the thick of things, money-wise; they're now only a couple of million removed from Real Madrid, who have the most lucrative sponsorship in world football. It's a raise of nearly £10 million a year for the Blues, and although they gave up ten years to get a deal done, I'm pretty happy with how things have turned out.
Given the state of the market (Arsenal have recently signed a 5 year, £150 million deal with Puma, for contrast), I'd be surprised if there wasn't a series of clauses that allow both parties to renegotiate or terminate the deal at specific times. Ten years seems like a lot to give up in a fast-moving market, but the Blues have secured a very lucrative deal, and my guess is that they'll be able to escape by 2018 or so should they really want to.
Anyway. Money. Money is good.
PS: The Arsenal deal with Puma doesn't start until the 2014/15 season, so for next year Chelsea will have the biggest kit deal in English football. Hurray!