PUMA has officially confirmed its long-term partnership with Neymar. Two weeks ago, the Brazilian football star ended his high-profile 15-year partnership with Nike.

News that the most expensive player in football was finalizing an endorsement deal with PUMA began to surface yesterday following weeks of speculation. Today, PUMA confirmed that it has signed a long-term partnership with the Brazilian player.

In a statement, PUMA explained that "as one of the most successful athletes of his generation, Neymar will wear PUMA’s legendary King football boot on the pitch. He will also be a brand ambassador off-pitch, wearing PUMA’s most important lifestyle, training, and sport-inspired footwear and apparel products."

Taking to Instagram to share the news with fans, Neymar wrote that he grew watching videos of great football legends. "They were the KINGs of the pitch. KINGs of my sport. This is exactly what I have dreamt of for myself. I want to do it my way. I wish to bring back the legacy that those athletes created on the pitch. I want the KING to reign on the pitch again and inspire generations, as it has inspired mine. This will be my PUMA history."

Over the past few years, Neymar has become one of the faces of Nike football, as well as a major asset in Jordan Brand’s ongoing collaboration with Neymar’s club, Paris Saint-Germain.