REEBOK, the sportswear manufacturer, has stolen a march on its rival Nike by luring Thierry Henry, the Arsenal striker, to become the new face of the brand. Henry’s “public stance against racism and his commitment to social issues” made him the perfect footballing face to front Reebok’s new “I am what I am” brand campaign, the company said yesterday.

The deal is believed to top the previous £9 million, five-year contract that Henry signed with Nike, the market leader in sports clothes and footwear. Henry instigated Nike’s “Stand Up Speak Up” campaign to stamp out racism in football.

Henry defects to Reebok in August after completing his World Cup promotions for Nike. The deal does not affect Arsenal’s seven-year £55 million deal to wear Nike kit, should he choose to stay with the club beyond the summer.

Henry’s move follows the acquisition of Reebok by adidas-Salomon in a £2.1 billion deal. Last month adidas said that Reebok’s orders in the fourth quarter had plunged 22 per cent after a fall in the third quarter.

Adidas counts David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Zinedine Zidane among its endorsements. The players have made a series of World Cup commercials to be shown during next week’s Champions League semi-finals.

Reebok is seeking to increase its star football presence. Ryan Giggs is its most famous face. Adidas has secured a £130 million new kit deal with Liverpool.

Nike’s football-related revenue has grown over a decade from £30 million a year to £850 million and it has an estimated 33 per cent share of the market, compared with adidas’s 35 per cent. Nike’s interests in golf, basketball and athletics make it the global sportswear market leader.

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