Haitian-born Argentine prospect Kiki Ramos signs Nike sponsorship deal

New York— Stephen “Kiki” Ramos, the Haiti-born forward who recently made his debut for Argentina’s Under-17 national team, has signed a sponsorship contract with Nike.

Ramos, 17, announced the partnership in an Instagram post on Sept. 3, sharing a video that shows him embracing a Nike representative before sitting down to sign the contract. The video also captures the moment as he completes the agreement with the sportswear company.

Ramos described joining Nike as something he had dreamed about since childhood.

“So happy and grateful to have joined the Nike family, something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid,” Ramos wrote in the post.

He thanked Nike for trusting him with the opportunity, as well as Vélez Sarsfield, his family and the people who have supported him.

“I know this is the result of a lot of hard work and effort, but also that it’s just another step on the journey. There’s still a lot to be done, and we have to keep working and learning every single day,” he wrote.

The deal comes as Ramos’ profile is growing in Argentine football. He plays for Vélez Sarsfield and has been part of recent Argentina Under-17 selections coached by former Argentine international Diego Placente.

According to the Argentine Football Association, Ramos made his Argentina Under-17 debut against Ecuador in July and scored his first goal for the team two days later against the same opponent.

Ramos was born in Haiti and arrived in Argentina when he was nine months old. According to the AFA, he was adopted by an Argentine family after the earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010 and grew up in Buenos Aires.

He developed through the youth ranks of Vélez Sarsfield, where his speed, strength in one-on-one situations and ability to get into scoring positions helped draw the attention of Argentina’s youth national team.

“Soy un jugador rápido, me gusta encarar a los rivales, e intento hacerme fuerte en los duelos uno contra uno y llegar seguido al gol,” Ramos told the AFA, describing himself as a quick player who likes to take on defenders, compete in one-on-one situations and get into scoring positions.

His emergence with Argentina has also given his career significance beyond the club level. Ramos became part of a small group of Black players to represent Argentina at the youth international level, according to Argentine media reports.

For Ramos, representing Argentina has been another milestone in a career that began with his arrival from Haiti as an infant.

“Para mí es un sueño representar a Argentina y un orgullo vestir esta camiseta tan hermosa,” he told the AFA.

Now, the Nike partnership adds another step to his rise.

Ramos ended his Instagram announcement by emphasizing that the sponsorship is not the destination but another stage in his development.

“So happy for this moment. Thank you to everyone who is a part of it,” he wrote.

At 17, Ramos is still at the beginning of his professional career. But the Nike deal, his emergence at Vélez and his first appearances for Argentina’s Under-17 team are giving the Haiti-born prospect an increasingly visible place in Argentine football.

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