Just a Copy? Introducing the First High-End Football Boot of Chinese Brand XTep
Apr 27, 2016, by Chris
Is this just a copy of the Adidas X Football Boots? Chinese brand XTep, who are well known as the kit supplier of Spanish La Liga club Villarreal, have released their first-ever high-end soccer cleat. The boots were presented by former AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko. Let's get into the XTep Blade 1 Football Boot.
XTep Blade 1 Football Shoes - Black / Grey / Yellow
This is the launch colorway of the XTep Blade 1 Soccer Shoe.
Combining the main color black with different shades of grey and striking yellow applications, the first-ever XTep Soccer Cleat boasts a unique but understated all-over graphic print. The most remarkable element of the shoes is the yellow collar that wraps around the ankle. It's a design that is classy but still outstanding.
On the heel area is XTep's logo, and the sole plate also boasts the logo of the Chinese company.
Tech-wise, the XTep Blade 1 Soccer Shoe strongly reminds us of the Adidas X Boot. The boot features a collar that is almost identical to the one of Adidas' Chaos boots, whereas the synthetic upper comes with a Honeycomb structure that seems to be very similar to the one of the first-gen Nike Hypervenom and the New Balance Visaro Boot.
The sole plate of the XTep Blade 1 Soccer Boot is very standard and just comes with conical studs, made for AG surfaces.
XTep Blade 1 Football Shoes - Grey / Pink
This is the alternative XTep Blade 1 launch paint job.
Combining different shades of grey and black with pink logos and applications, the second XTep Blade I Football Boots Colorway boasts a much more bold look than the first colorway.
The XTep Blade 1 Football Shoe retails at 599.00 Chinese Yuan (80 Euro, 80 USD, 60 GBP) and is already available in China. Lower-tier models of the boot are also available.
What's your verdict on the XTep Blade 1 Football Boot? Let us know in the comments section below.
Real Madrid 26-27 New Shirt Number Owners
Real Madrid have officially confirmed their squad numbers for the 2026-27 season. Thanks to @jersey_story for the design visuals.
Raúl Asencio steps into the No. 2 shirt previously worn by Dani Carvajal, while new signing Dean Huijsen takes over No. 4 from David Alaba. Endrick also returns to the No. 9 after his loan spell at Marseille.
Among the new arrivals, Ibrahima Konaté will wear No. 16, Marc Cucurella No. 17, Carlos Espí No. 19, Denzel Dumfries No. 24 and Yan Diomande No. 25. Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva will continue wearing No. 20 following Fran García's departure. The number is closely associated with the Portuguese midfielder's most successful years at Manchester City.
Which new number catches your eye the most? Let us know your answer in the comments below.
Paris Saint-Germain Debut 26-27 Kits Featuring Two Stars
PSG debuted a two-star version of their 26-27 kits during recent friendly matches, commemorating their pair of UEFA Champions League titles. This special detail will be used exclusively in international competitions.
Despite Ligue 1 placing no restriction on star crests, PSG announced they will not feature the stars on their domestic league kits. Special thanks to @jerseystory_vn for the spot and graphic.
No More Nike: Adidas Croatia 2026 Training Kits Revealed
Following their switch from Nike to Adidas, Croatia's new training kit set for 2026 have been unveiled in the latest training camp for youth teams' goalkeepers.
However from what we've seen, both of the new jerseys are simply from Adidas Tiro 26 League template range, using default black and grey color choices. These are very likely just temporary options for the mean time, until the actual designs with probably bespoke colorways are officially released.
What do you think of the new Adidas Croatia 2026 training kits? Let us know in the comments below.
