Chairman on success of Oasis kit and CFG clubs around the world | OneFootball

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has discussed the huge success of our 2024/25 Oasis collaboration kit and offered his assessment of City Football Group’s performance over the last 12 months.

In the second half of his wide-ranging annual interview, the Chairman praised PUMA and Noel Gallagher for their combined efforts to create the Definitely City number that was worn in selected UEFA Champions League matches last term.

He also suggested that more creative kits will be coming down the line.

“I have to say PUMA have been phenomenal partners to the Club. We love the creativity,” he began.

“I think that particular kit was superb, a huge hit. I think the fans love it. Noel was really brilliant in terms of his role and the creation of this kit too.

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“And I think you'll see a lot more of that. The PUMA and City Football Group partnership, and particularly with Manchester City, is getting more and more creative.

“I knew this was going to be a hit, there's no doubt. With the combination of Noel, Oasis, PUMA, Manchester City, I knew we were going to get it right.”

WATCH: Watch: Chairman’s Interview 2025 - Part Two

Later in the discussion with Chris Bailey in Abu Dhabi, the Chairman picked out three separate case studies from across the City Football Group.

Firstly, he mentioned Bahia, who have qualified for the Copa Libertadores in just their second season after promotion to the Brazilian Serie A.

“It's a great story, what's happened in Bahia,” he said.

“Taking a team from the second division in two years to go to the first division and to be competing in the equivalent of the Champions League in Latin America is a really amazing achievement.

“I think the Brazilian football league is going to become one of the premier leagues around the world. Obviously, the talent has always been there but for whatever reason, over the years, the league hadn't developed.

“Now it is. It's becoming very commercial.

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“It's becoming big in terms of TV viewership, globally. And you're seeing these clubs now get better and better and we're very lucky. I think we have a great team in Brazil.

“We've been part of that journey from the second division to the first division and now back to competing at all levels.”

WATCH: Watch: Chairman’s Interview 2025 - Part One

Meanwhile, Melbourne City have enjoyed a strong campaign across men’s and women’s football.

The men’s side will play cross-city rivals Melbourne Victory in the A-League Grand Final next week, while the women’s team reached the AFC Champions League final earlier this month.

The Chairman says those showings are proof positive that CFG’s sustainable backing is working.

“Melbourne is a great example of a Club that through those years of careful management and careful investment and putting that club to where it is today,” he said.

“You see the consistency, a team always competing, year in, year out, to win. We are in the Grand Final that's going to be played next Saturday.

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“But we're there, we're always there. And I think that's the great thing.

“And now you're seeing it with the women's team, reaching the Asian Champions League final - we’re there.”

Finally, the Chairman discussed the ongoing building work in the US to give New York City a permanent home.

Since joining MLS in 2015, New York City have played out of both the Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, baseball parks that are home to the Yankees and Mets respectively.

However, ground was broken in the development of the Club’s first purpose-built stadium, set to be known as Etihad Park, in December 2024.

“The work is now in full effect. Construction is happening at a fast pace,” said the Chairman.

“This is going to be an incredible stadium. We're very excited about what we're doing in New York and what we're doing for that community.

“It's been a great journey. And they've earned, they've deserved a stadium. And finally, they're going to get it.

“We now have a line of sight of when it's going to be finished and it'll be transformative, I think, for football fans in New York, for our fan base, and really at a time where football is booming in America.

“Always when you invest in high quality infrastructure, it has a domino effect on the area.

“We are lucky, we have a good location that the stadium is being built in Queens, across from Citi Field. I think it's going to make that area even better.

“I think it will add a lot of value to the community over there. They've learned to build a great passion for the team. And now they'll get their stadium.”

WATCH PART TWO OF THE CHAIRMAN'S INTERVIEW 2025