JD Sports news and archive

Sky News report: JD Sports chairman Andy Higginson to depart in unexpected exit

UK-based retailer JD Sports Fashion is preparing for the departure of its chairman, Andy Higginson, who is expected to step down from the board in the coming months. The news, reported by Sky News, marks a significant change for the leadership of the largest listed sporting goods group in the UK. The report added that Higginson, a retail veteran...

Fashion

Streetwear brand Hoodrich to launch footwear in the US

British streetwear brand Hoodrich, founded by Jay Williams from his bedroom in Birmingham, is launching its inaugural footwear collection in the US exclusively with JD Sports, in partnership with the Eastman Group, a global footwear and apparel licensing company. Hoodrich, which became part of the Iconix International group in November 2023, has...

BusinessPress Release

JD Sports chooses Checkpoint to transform inventory accuracy and shelf availability

Checkpoint Systems, a global leader in RFID technology and solutions, is pleased to announce it has signed a multi‑year global software agreement with JD Sports Fashion Plc to deploy their ItemOptix™ RFID Inventory Management Software across the retailer’s Sports Fashion Group stores, starting in Europe. This partnership modernizes inventory...

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Business

JD Sports to host Manchester careers event amid rising concern over youth unemployment

JD Group, the parent company of JD Sports, is taking a hands-on approach to rising youth unemployment by hosting a careers event for 10,000 young people in Manchester. Spanning two-days and located at the city’s Central Convention Complex, JD UP will spotlight 28 of the company’s departments, platforming thousands of career pathways, a press...

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JD Sports Fashion to repurchase 200 million pounds of shares

JD Sports Fashion PLC said on Monday that it plans to return 200 million pounds of capital to shareholders through share buybacks in fiscal 2027. Under the first tranche, the share repurchase drive will commence immediately to repurchase up to 100 million pounds of shares. This repurchase is expected to be completed before July 31. Thereafter,...

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Business

JD Sports maintains full-year profit expectations despite mixed Q4 performance

JD Sports Fashion has released its fourth quarter trading update, reporting a resilient performance during the critical peak trading period despite a volatile consumer environment. The Group achieved organic sales growth of 1.4 percent for the nine-week period ending 3 January 2026, while like-for-like (LFL) sales saw a slight decline of 1.8...

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JD Sports to allow US shoppers to purchase through AI platforms

The JD Group is due to enable US customers to purchase products through AI platforms. The sportswear retailer has announced a global agreement with digital commerce platform provider Commercetools and Stripe to allow for one-click purchases on platforms such as Gemini and ChatGPT. The company will leverage the duo’s Agentic Commerce Suite (ACS)...

People

JD Sports appoints new managing director of EMEA business

JD Group, the parent company of sportswear giant JD Sports, has confirmed the departure of its managing director, Michael Armstrong. It has subsequently announced the promotion of Paul Orange as the new managing director of JD EMEA (UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa). Armstrong’s exit comes over 30 years after he initially joined JD, and three...

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JD Sports navigates weaker consumer confidence in Q3, adjusts outlook

JD Sports Fashion plc reported delivered stable trading despite persistent macroeconomic pressures and softer consumer confidence across key markets in the third quarter. Total Group sales for the 13 weeks to 1 November rose 8.1 percent at constant exchange rates, including contributions from recent acquisitions, while organic sales increased...

People

Former De Beers CFO Sarah Kuijlaars joins JD Sports board

JD Sports Fashion Plc has appointed Sarah Kuijlaars as an independent non-executive director, effective November 10, 2025, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen its board oversight and governance structure. The company said Kuijlaars will also join the audit and risk committee and the nomination committee. She is set to become chair of the...

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JD Sports launches 100 million pound share buyback programme

JD Sports Fashion Plc, on Thursday, announced that it will launch a share buyback programme of up to 100 million pounds. The programme begins immediately and is expected to be completed by the end of the financial year on January 31, 2026. The maximum number of shares that may be acquired, as authorised at the company's 2025 AGM, is 515,475,677,...

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Business

JD Group reports 18 percent sales increase in H1, driven by acquisitions

JD Group has reported its interim results for the first half of fiscal year 2026, showing total sales of 5.94 billion pounds, an 18 percent increase from the prior year. At constant exchange rates, this represents a 20 percent growth, largely driven by the acquisitions of Hibbett and Courir. Organic sales growth, which excludes these...