As rumored and seen on the pitch, 17-year-old Brazilian football star Endrick has been signed by New Balance Football.

The brand wants to help and support the next generation of good players, and this sale is an important part of that plan. Endrick used to have a deal with Nike. His deal with Nike ended in February 2023, and he signed with New Balance. Nike had six months to extend his deal.

Endrick was called up to the Brazil national team and helped Palmeiras win the Brazilian top-flight league title. He showed off a special pair of gold New Balance Tekela v4+ Low boots called “Accolade” to celebrate. They were made just for him.

Endrick chose to sign with New Balance over Nike, Adidas, and Puma because they could give him a bigger and more important job than those other brands. Endrick said in a statement that he was excited to be a part of the New Balance team and that he felt privileged to work for a company that shares his values on and off the pitch.

Some young football stars, like Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Harvey Elliot, have been signed by New Balance and helped them grow. They’re putting money into the next crop of football stars.

Reports say that the deal will be made public in December of this year. Endrick will be at the company’s offices in Boston to see it happen.

ESPN says Endrick chose New Balance over Nike, Adidas, and Puma, who all wanted to sign him. People say the main reason is that New Balance was the only brand that worked with the player to make a signature shoe, even though other brands wouldn’t have done that.