Didier Drogba to Leave Nike? Drogba Debuts Mystery Classic Blackout Boots
Oct 7, 2015, by Chris
Montreal Impact superstar striker Didier Drogba is set to leave the Swoosh after he debuted a mystery pair of blackout cleats in the MLS match against Orlando City on October 3.
Didier Drogba had been wearing the Nike Mercurial Vapor during his entire career, while he surprisingly switched to blackout boots in Montreal Impact's last MLS match. Is Drogba set to leave Nike after more than twelve years?
Didier Drogba To Leave Nike?
Drogba already wore Nike Mercurial Boots in 2003.
While Drogba laced up in the Wolf Grey Nike Mercurial Vapor Boots until September 2015, he made the switch to a blackout pair of boots in the last league match.
As blackout boots usually indicate that a player and brand go separate ways, if they are worn in official matches and not raining sessions, it's likely that the Ivorian striker already has left the Swoosh. But which boots was he wearing?
Didier Drogba's Classic Blackout Cleats
Close-up pictures of Didier Drogba's blackout boots.
It's obvious that Drogba is not wearing a blackout version of the Nike Mercurial Boots as his cleats feature a classic sole plate and a leather upper, while the Nike Mercurial Vapor 10 Boots offer a lightweight synthetic Teijin upper. So which boots are those?
Drogba's Boots boast a large external heel counter and a smooth leather-like upper structure. The forefoot area of the cleats features a traditional stitching, while there is a eye-catching stitching around the tongue. But the most remarkable element is that outsole.
The traditional sole plate of the blackout Didier Drogba Boots is light grey and features a classical stud configuration with four conical studs in the heel area and seven conical studs in the forefoot area.
We are not aware of any boot that is identical to Drogba's Blackout Boots. Most likely, Drogba is wearing a customized boot of the Italian heritage brand Pantofola d'Oro as his boots have many similarities to the Pantofola d'Oro Lazzarini Cleats.
Do you know what he was wearing? Let us know in the comments section below.
Girondins Bordeaux 26-27 Home Kit Released
FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Hummel have officially unveiled the club's new home kit for the 26-27 campaign. Continuing the partnership that began last season, the Danish sportswear brand delivers a clean, heritage-focused look designed around the club's traditional identity.
The Bordeaux 26-27 home shirt is predominantly dark navy, centered around the iconic white scapular across the upper chest. A retro-styled white polo collar with a crossover V-neck and contrasting white sleeve cuffs complement the classic aesthetic. Adding depth to the navy base is a subtle tone-on-tone geometric pattern featuring a diamond grid interwoven with the three interlaced crescents from the city of Bordeaux's coat of arms.
Hummel completes the jersey with its signature white chevrons running along the shoulders, alongside the Hummel wordmark and the club's crest displayed on the chest. Navy shorts and socks complete the full 26-27 home kit.
Chelsea 26-27 Third Kit Spotted for Sale
Chelsea's new 26-27 third kit has been spotted on retail shelves and has now begun appearing across select Nike online stores, providing a full look at the retro-infused design ahead of its formal club launch. Following initial leaks over the past week, the shirt has already surfaced in both player-issue and replica versions in multiple locations. Big thanks to @batsflip.
In-store displays show the kit equipped with the USDC by Circle front-of-shirt sponsor and the gold FIFA Club World Champions crest positioned centrally between the Nike swoosh and the club badge. Clean, sponsorless editions have also appeared on official retail channels, complemented by matching white shorts and socks.
Stade de Reims 26-27 Third Kit Released - Celebrating 100 Years of Circuit de Gueux
Puma and Stade de Reims have officially unveiled the club's new third shirt for the 26-27 campaign. The design serves as a tribute to the historic Circuit de Gueux racing track located just outside the city, marking the 100th anniversary of its opening in 1926.
The Puma Stade de Reims 26-27 third jersey is predominantly black, accented by curved light grey brush-stroke graphics across the body that resemble skid marks on asphalt. A contrasting grey V-neck collar, matching cuffs, and grey side panels complete the frame, while the club crest, manufacturer branding, and sponsor prints appear in clean monochrome white.
A standout finishing touch can be found at the lower hem in the form of a special commemorative jock tag. The badge features the Circuit de Gueux layout, the French tricolor, a checkered flag motif, and the inscription "100 ANS 1926-2026". The new third kit is available through the club's official webshop.
Sunderland Announce Shuffle as Official Sleeve Partner
Sunderland AFC have announced a new multi-year agreement with Shuffle, naming the centralized crypto casino and sports betting platform as the club's Official Sleeve Partner. The Shuffle branding will make its on-pitch debut on the first-team kits starting this weekend.
The deal replaces LiveScore Bet, who served as Sunderland's sleeve sponsor during the 25-26 season. While Premier League regulations prohibit front-of-shirt gambling sponsorships starting in the 26-27 campaign, betting and casino brands remain permitted to feature on shirt sleeves.
Shuffle's logo will be displayed on the sleeve of Sunderland's kits throughout the multi-year partnership, providing global visibility for the platform as the Black Cats continue to overhaul their commercial lineup.
BG Pathum United 26-27 AFC Champions League Two Home Kit Released
Thai League club BG Pathum United has officially revealed its dedicated home kit for the 26-27 AFC Champions League Two campaign. Produced by Nike, the jersey adapts the club's domestic home look into a streamlined, competition-compliant design for continental action.
The 26-27 ACL2 home shirt utilizes the same royal blue base and template as the standard domestic kit, accented by dark navy ribbing on the collar and sleeve cuffs alongside white side panel details. To adhere to AFC equipment regulations, the domestic sponsors have been stripped away. In place of the usual LEO front sponsor, the continental version showcases a white Singha Corporation graphic paired with the player's squad number on the front, complemented by a monochrome white club crest and Nike Swoosh.
The Nike BG Pathum United 26-27 AFC Champions League Two home kit is now available through the club's official club store and online shop, priced at 999 THB with optional full flex printing.
Newcastle Jets 26-27 AFC Champions League Elite Home & Away Kits Released
A-League side Newcastle Jets have officially revealed their new 26-27 home and away kits for their upcoming AFC Champions League Elite campaign. Crafted by New Balance, the special collection takes direct inspiration from the kits worn during the club's very first Asian continental adventure back in 2009.
The Newcastle Jets 26-27 ACLE home jersey is predominantly gold, highlighted by a navy panel across the upper chest and shoulders separated by a thin red accent line. The retro-inspired template is completed with gold shorts and socks. Inverting the palette, the away jersey features a deep navy base topped with a contrasting gold chest block and matching red piping, paired with navy shorts and socks.
Both shirts feature the club crest, New Balance logos, and the Wadam Living sponsor across the midriff, as well as the official AFC Champions League Elite tournament sleeve patch on the right arm.
CR Belouizdad 26-27 Home Kit Released
Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 side CR Belouizdad have officially unveiled their new home kit for the 26-27 season, produced by Puma. Designed as a celebration of the club's legacy and identity, the shirt brings a classic look back to the forefront for the capital side.
The Puma CR Belouizdad 26-27 home shirt is predominantly red, anchored by a bold white chevron across the chest. It incorporates a white V-neck collar, patterned white sleeve cuffs, and a subtle "1962" detail on the sleeve honoring the year of the club's founding. The CRB crest with its championship star is placed over the chest alongside white Puma branding and the logo of main sponsor Madar Holding.
Built with Puma's dryCELL performance fabric and RE:FIBRE recycled materials, the new jersey is completed by matching red shorts and red socks.