Barcelona and Nike planning tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant with club to launch 'Mamba Collection' - including special kit for 2025-26 season

The Catalan giants have, following the odd dispute, entered into a 10-year partnership with sportswear giants Nike that is said to be worth €1.7 billion (£1.4bn/$1.8bn). As part of that deal, a special range of Kobe-inspired merchandise will be launched – including sweatpants, jackets and caps.

Barca will also be delivering a special away kit for the 2025-26 campaign that features the iconic ‘Black Mamba’ logo. Said shirt will, according to Mundo Deportivo, be ochre in colour and feature purple detailing – in a nod to the LA Lakers jersey that Bryant wore with such distinction.

Tributes are being paid to basketball icon Bryant, who passed away in January 2020, as he often expressed support for the Blaugrana. He visited training sessions and games when Barca were in the United States, allowing him to rub shoulders with the likes of Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.

Barcelona’s 'Mamba Collection' is similar to that produced by Paris Saint-Germain as part of their partnership with Nike – with the 'Air Jordan' logo having featured on several of the French club’s kits since 2017.