What's Up with the Upper of the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl?
Nov 28, 2016, by Pat
It's time to speak more about the confusion that is the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl and its different uppers.
As you might have noticed over the last few days and perhaps already before the official launch, not just Paul Pogba, but ALL professionals are wearing a sort of prototype / sample of the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl - one that's almost nothing like the one that hit retail and was dubbed a "16.5" by some.
An interesting perspective on the whole situation is offered by Unisport's JayMike who recently said that he hopes that the Ace 17+ PureControl will get updated before its eventually replaced by the Ace 18+. Now, this could just be his inner boot nerd speaking, but it would be extremely naive to assume that a person in his position would voice something along those lines without knowing at least something.
Another point in favor of an update of the Ace 17+ PureControl upper at one point is the fact that all leaked colorways feature the second upper. If Adidas had settled on reverting to the 16+ upper for whatever reason, one would assume that later samples, for example for the Fall / Winter 2017 period, would be based on the definitive upper by now.
All in all, we are fairly certain that we'll see the Ace 17+ PureControl's real look instore sooner than later. Possibly already with January's Checkered Black edition. If you cannot wait to try out what the pros are wearing, you should probably give the 'Tango' rendition of the Ace 17+ PureControl, available with turf and indoor outsoles, a try. By the looks of it, its upper is identical to the earlier leaks of the cleated edition, i.e. what the professionals are wearing.
So why is so important for Adidas to update the upper? First, it's kind of odd to release a boot that's virtually unchanged and branding it as a whole new edition - or at least that's what people could feel in this situation. Additionally, we believe it's important that players are not advertising boots that have almost nothing in common with what they are wearing on the field, as e.g. Paul Pogba is doing currently. We feel that this could hurt Adidas reputation with time.
There are also a number of more practical reasons to update the upper. For one, there where a few critics of the initial laceless PureControl boots voiced concerns about the fit being too loose in general - an update could help resolve this. Also, the 16+ PureControl's upper construction, while getting rid of laces, added a second compression techfit layer. It looks like the 'real' Ace 17+ PureControl upper is just one layer, which could offer a better connection with and improved feel for the ball.
What do you think? Share your thoughts on the Ace 17+ PureControl upper controversy in the comments below.
Deportivo Genésis 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
Honduran clib Deportivo Genésis have unveiled their new home, away and third kit ahead of the 26-27 season, made by local customizing brand Humminbird Printz.
The three designs share strong connection with the club's traditional colors: a blue home shirt with dark blue detailing, a striking away jersey with blue base and white gradient hoops, and a white third kit featuring classy blue pinstripes.
What do you think of Deportivo Genésis 26-27 kits by Humminbird Printz? Let us know in the comments below.
CD Feirense 26-27 Away Kit Released
Portuguese Liga Portugal 2 club CD Feirense have officially unveiled the 2026-27 away kit. Made by Kelme, the new shirt introduces a distinctive look inspired by the club's "A Nossa Segunda Pele" (Our Second Skin) campaign.
The Kelme CD Feirense 2026-27 away shirt features a predominantly white base with a subtle grey graphic across the front, creating a reptile skin-inspired texture. A classic polo collar and monochromatic silver detailing complete the design, including a metallic-effect club crest for a refined finish.
What do you think of the new CD Feirense 2026-27 away kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Tigres 26-27 Away Kit Leaked - 10 New Pictures
Footy Headlines can now leak 10 new pictures of the Adidas Togres 26-27 away kit. Thanks to uncleyudh_jersey.
The new shirt is predominantly navy blue with a wide gold horizontal band across the chest, housing an oversized "TIGRES" wordmark, complemented by gold Adidas shoulder stripes, sleeve accents, trim, crest, and sponsor logos.
Nottingham Forest Debut 26-27 Adidas Away Kit
Nottingham Forest have officially debuted their new Adidas away kit for the 26-27 season during pre-season action in Italy.
The new uniform features a dark collegiate green base color that pays homage to the club's heritage and moniker, accompanied by bright red accents and the classic Adidas Trefoil logo. The shirt incorporates an all-over leafy printed graphic pattern across the fabric, providing a subtle textured finish. Bright red Three Stripes run along the shoulders, complemented by matching red piping around the collar and sleeve cuffs.
CD Manchego Ciudad Real 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Spanish Tercera Federación side CD Manchego Ciudad Real has officially presented its new home and away kits for the 26-27 season. Made by long-term technical sponsor Joma, with whom the club recently extended their partnership through 27-28, the new collection pairs classic heritage design with a modern look.
The 26-27 home kit uses Joma's Vintage Eco-Retro template, featuring a royal blue body paired with a contrasting white polo collar and matching sleeve trim. The shirt incorporates a clean monochrome white club crest alongside the municipal emblem of Ciudad Real and a 97th-anniversary detail on the lower back.
For the away option, Manchego Ciudad Real adopts Joma's Championship VIII model. The kit features a sleek black and anthracite base with subtle sublimated graphic detailing across the shoulder panels. Like the home shirt, it carries a white monochrome crest, local municipality details, and special anniversary branding on the reverse.
AJ Auxerre 26-27 Away Kit Released
French club AJ Auxerre and technical partner Macron have officially launched the new away kit for the 26-27 season. Continuing the club's recent tradition of wearing black away strips, the latest release blends a modern dark look with subtle historical references.
The AJ Auxerre 26-27 away jersey features a black base highlighted by a striking blue and white horizontal chest band that houses the Macron logo and club crest. Across the main body, tonal horizontal stripes feature a repeating pattern of the Maltese cross and the club's founding year, 1905. White trim on the crew collar and sleeve cuffs with light blue accents, along with the full club name embroidered on the upper back, finish off the shirt.
Matching black shorts with blue and white detailing and black socks complete the new AJ Auxerre 26-27 away kit.
Os Belenenses 26-27 Home Kit Released
Portuguese side CF Os Belenenses and Hummel have officially unveiled the club's new home kit for the 26-27 season. Pre-orders for the new jersey opened exclusively through the club's online store, Loja Azul.
The Hummel Belenenses 26-27 home shirt comes in the club's signature royal blue base, complemented by a classic white polo collar and white sleeve cuffs. Hummel's signature chevrons run down the shoulders in white, while a bespoke tonal graphic pattern decorates the front of the jersey. This pattern incorporates motifs inspired by traditional Portuguese tilework and historical symbols honoring Belém and the club's history since 1919.
The iconic red Cross of the Order of Christ emblem is featured on the left chest, accompanied by the Hummel logo and main sponsor bwin across the front. The new 26-27 home kit is paired with traditional white shorts and blue socks.
OFI Crete 26-27 Third Kit Released
Greek Super League side OFI Crete and Puma have officially unveiled the club's new third kit for the 26-27 season. Following the earlier release of their stealth-inspired fourth jersey, the Cretan side's latest strip brings a bold, high-contrast look to the pitch. The Puma OFI Crete 26-27 third jersey features a vibrant bright orange torso combined with contrasting dark navy raglan sleeves and collar detail. White Puma cat branding sits on the right chest, while main sponsor Betsson appears across the front in white lettering. Completing the design, the official circular OFI Crete badge is positioned on the left chest, topped by two silver stars referencing the club's historic Greek Cup triumphs. The kit is paired with dark shorts and matching socks to complete the on-pitch ensemble.