Schalke to Sign Record-Breaking Under Armour and Gazprom Kit Deals?
Dec 26, 2015, by Chris
German Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 is set to sign a record-breaking sponsorship deal with Gazprom, according to reports of German newspaper Bild. The German newspaper also reports that Under Armour is on the verge of becoming the new jersey supplier of Die Knappen.
Under Armour to Become New Schalke Kit Supplier?
While Adidas will make Schalke's Kits at least until 2018 when their long-term contract expires, it's extremely unlikely that Adidas will extend their deal as the German company already announced to put the focus only on the biggest European clubs in the future. So who will become Schalke's new shirt manufacturer?
Bild reports that it's most likely that Under Armour will become the new Schalke 04 kit supplier from the 2018-19 season, while the German newspaper also reports that Under Armour would pay a record-breaking sum of 10 to 12 million Euro (Adidas currently pays €7 million / season).
And while Schalke is not only set to sign a new kit deal, the German club also plans to extend their current kit sponsorship deal with Gazprom prematurely. The Russian company Gazprom, who currently pays €20 million / season to be on Schalke's Kits, would be paying up to €30 million / season (€120 million over four years) to remain on Schalke's kits, according to Bild.
Additionally, Bild also said that it's extremely unlikely that car makers Volkswagen will continue to be a sponsor of the German club from the 2016-17 season.
Monopoli 26-27 Centenary Kit Released
Italian Serie C club SS Monopoli 1966 and kit supplier Joma have officially unveiled a special centenary kit celebrating 100 years since the arrival of football in the city (1926-2026). Branded as the 'Special Kit 100 Audace', the shirt pays homage to the historic Audace Monopoli team and the roots of the local game.
Stepping away from the club's traditional green and white palette, the Joma Monopoli 2026-27 centenary jersey adopts a classic black-and-white striped design. The kit features a retro-inspired collar construction, a golden Joma logo on the chest, and an archival Monopoli crest. Subtle tonal jacquard graphics are woven directly into the fabric.
Completed with matching black shorts and socks, the commemorative Monopoli 26-27 centenary kit is available via the club's official webshop and local retail locations.
São Paulo Feminino 26-27 Third Kit Released - First-Ever Exclusive Women's Kit
São Paulo FC and New Balance have officially unveiled the new third kit for the club's women's team. Marking a historic milestone for the Tricolor Paulista, this release represents the first time the Brazilian club has designed a third shirt exclusively for São Paulo Feminino.
The New Balance São Paulo 26-27 women's third jersey arrives in an elegant lilac base inspired by the lotus flower, symbolizing strength, resilience, and the power to flourish in adverse conditions. The lower portion of the shirt is adorned with a delicate watermark pattern of blooming lotus petals that fades subtly into the fabric. In addition, the kit features a commemorative lotus icon on the upper back and the embroidered phrase "Somos Lótus, Somos Luta" on the shoulder.
Contrasting deep purple details highlight the V-neck collar, sleeve trims, and sponsor branding, while the club crest and New Balance logo are applied with a 3D TPU glazed finish. Built with moisture-wicking NB Dry fabric made from 100% recycled polyester, the kit is completed by dark purple shorts and socks.
Al-Jabalain 26-27 Home & Third Kits Released
Saudi Arabian side Al-Jabalain have unveiled their new home and third kits, made by Skillano and to be worn in the upcoming 26-27 Saudi First Division season.
The new designs bring interesting approaches to the traditional colorway: The home kit features a brown and white striped base with a diagonal graphic on the lower hips, while the third kit uses a complicated subtle pattern on a clean white look.
What do you think of the Skillano Al-Jabalain 26-27 home and third kits? Let us know in the comments below.
Special Detail on the FA Community Shield Sleeve Patch
The sleeve patch worn during recent 2026 FA Community Shield match featured a unique, customized touch: the ribbon running across the shield was split into red and sky blue, representing the primary colors of Arsenal and Manchester City.
This bespoke ribbon colorway tradition first debuted at the 2015 FA Community Shield in the clash between Arsenal and Chelsea.
The only exceptions to this colored-ribbon tradition occurred in 2020 (Arsenal vs. Liverpool) and 2025 (Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool), where the ribbons on the patch were rendered in neutral white. This adjustment is believed to be the FA's standard protocol to maintain visual balance when both competing clubs share the same primary kit color (red).
Another unique scenario took place in 2021. Even though Manchester City wore their away kit against Leicester City, the patch still featured both clubs' traditional home colors. This was possible because City’s sky blue and Leicester’s royal blue possess distinguishable shades.
Big thanks to @jerseystory_vn for spotting this detail and creating the collage.
Gianluigi Donnarumma Prefers Replica Kits
During the 2026 FA Community Shield, Gianluigi Donnarumma was once again spotted wearing a replica jersey on the pitch rather than an authentic player-issue shirt. Details such as the embroidered crest and the standard dryCELL branding confirmed his kit choice.
This marks the second consecutive season since joining Manchester City that the Italian goalkeeper has opted for the replica version. The reason stems from Puma's player-issue shirts featuring a tighter, more athletic cut, whereas Donnarumma prefers a looser, roomier fit for maximum comfort and freedom of movement.
Big thanks to @jerseystory_vn for spotting this detail and creating the comparison graphic.
Rodri to Wear Number 16 at FC Barcelona
Incoming FC Barcelona signing Rodri is set to wear his trademark number 16 jersey following his big-money switch from Manchester City. The Spanish international midfielder has built an iconic association with the number throughout his career at club level with Manchester City and on the international stage with Spain.
The number 16 shirt had previously belonged to young midfielder Fermín López. Following direct conversations between the players, Fermín has agreed to vacate the number and switch to the number 7 shirt, allowing Rodri to take his favored jersey ahead of the 26-27 season.
