CITY have announced the biggest kit deal in the club’s history.

The Bantams have tied up a six-year technical partnership with Italian sportswear firm Macron.

The agreement will provide a “substantial six-figure sum” every year – representing well over half a million in the Valley Parade coffers for the duration of the contract.

Based in Northern Italy’s Bologna region, Macron will take over the running of the club’s retail operation through Pitch Pro Retail and manufacture City’s playing kits until the conclusion of the 2027/28 campaign, as well as the club's training and leisurewear.

The deal will also see the opening of the Bradford City Store on South Parade on Tuesday, June 14 – which will coincide with the launch of City's 2022/23 home strip.

Formed in Crespellano in 1971, Macron has since gone on to become an internationally-recognised brand, currently affiliated with over 90 professional sports clubs including Lazio, Udinese, Sampdoria and Nottingham Forest.

The Hero Company's recently-launched ‘4 The Planet’ initiative will be positively endorsed by City, who are on board with the pledge to promote greater environmental sustainability, with garments produced in Eco-Fabric - made up 100 per cent of recycled plastics, certified by Global Recycled Standard.

Club chief executive Ryan Sparks said: “We are delighted to have agreed a six-year partnership with a brand as forward thinking and ambitious as Macron, who will take our retail operation to a new level and deliver greater revenue from this department than ever before.

“Macron’s depth is extremely impressive, and the layers of their business are huge in comparison to what we have worked with previously.

“The level of intricacy Macron have put into this partnership has been impressive.

“When you consider the profile and number of clubs they work with globally, the attention to detail has been very refreshing, and I am sure our supporters will see this in the official merchandise available from next month.

“In Macron, I firmly believe we have found a partner which can help us reach our potential on the retail side of the business, while of course helping us to constantly increase our turnover and supporting our on-field efforts.

“From a financial perspective, this is a very exciting deal for our football club. From now until its end, Bradford City will benefit greatly, and our fanbase will reap the benefits of what we are able to provide together.”

Sparks, who recently travelled to Italy to complete the deal, confirmed that City will be reverting to claret and amber stripes for next term after playing the last year at Valley Parade in white.

Sparks added: “Last season, we moved away from what was modern tradition for the club in terms of claret and amber stripes, but we will be moving back towards that next year with a real classic look, which will be spread across the away and third strips.

“There has been lots of effort, detail and thought put into our look for next season, and we have used Macron’s expertise to take it to new heights.

“I would like to thank Andrea Palilla and all his fantastic colleagues for their passion and support and I look forward to working with Macron and the Pitch Pro Retail team closely over the course of the coming years.”

Andrea Palilla, Macron’s UK and Ireland country manager, said: “Bradford City is an iconic club with great, unique colours and a fantastic supporter base.

“I view it as a sleeping giant, and it is definitely moving forward, which is what we were looking for when talks began.

“We are very excited because, when we get involved with new clubs, we want to show supporters and players that we can produce something special, while considering the quality of the merchandise, which we take very seriously.

“We are confident all the shirts we produce will be very well received by the Bradford City fans and, of course, without saying too much, the club’s colours will be always at the forefront of our minds.

“What will be important for supporters are the small details we will be putting into the shirts, which is what Macron is famous for.

“We are looking forward to what will hopefully be a long and successful partnership with Bradford City.”