Éli Junior Kroupi Trains in Nike Hypervenom 'Transform Hydra' Remake for France Debut
AFC Bournemouth forward Éli Junior Kroupi turned heads during his first senior France training camp at Clairefontaine by sporting an iconic pair of Nike boots. Following his maiden call-up to Les Bleus to replace the injured Marcus Thuram, the 20-year-old took to the pitch in the limited-edition Nike Hypervenom Phantom 1 RGN Transform "Hydra". Thanks to @DegaineSo.
Released in 2025 as a modern nod to the 2015 Transform concept, the "Hydra" edition boasts a specialized water-activated upper. Under dry conditions, the boot displays a subtle pale grey surface, but once in contact with moisture or water on the pitch, it transforms to reveal a vivid blue honeycomb graphic underneath. The remake blends the beloved first-generation NikeSkin upper with the aggressive HyperReactive soleplate taken from the Hypervenom 3.
Kroupi's boot choice mirrors that of his international teammate Michael Olise, who has famously continued to wear vintage Hypervenom boots at both club and international levels. With Nike widely reported to be preparing a full relaunch of the Hypervenom line in 2027, seeing another rising French star champion the classic silo only adds to the excitement surrounding its return.
