Happy Birthday | Not Always Mercurials - Here Is Eden Hazard's Full Boot History
Jan 7, 2018, by Chris
Eden Hazard, Belgium international and Chelsea striker, celebrates his 27th birthday yesterday. The Belgian striker is Nike's face of the Ultra Flyknit soccer boot and is set to be one of the main players of the next-gen Nike Mercurial. However, Hazard has not always laced up in Nike speed boots.
First Years as Professional - Nike Tiempo and Mercurial
Eden Hazard joined Chelsea in 2012 from Lille, five years after his first senior match.
Hazard, a product of Lille's and Tubize's youth system, made his senior debut in 2007 at the age of 16. And while he wore Nike's Mercurial soccer boots in his first senior match, he also laced up in the Nike Tiempo Legend soccer boots between 2007 and 2012 very often, interestingly.
Eden Hazard Joins Chelsea - Says Goodbye to Nike's Most Classic Pro Player Boot and Receives First Signature Boots
When Hazard joined Chelsea, he quickly became one of the Premier League's biggest stars. He therefore was one of the players to headline the Nike Green Speed ACC II football boots in 2012. He also never again laced up in Nike Tiempo boots since he joined the Blues, and never used Nike's high-cut Mercurial Superfly boots.
In May 2015, Eden Hazard received a unique signature boot from Nike honoring Eden Hazard's great season which saw him win the Premier League with Chelsea and the PFA Player of the Year award individually.
In September 2017, the Belgian superstar became the main face of a whole boot silo for the first time when Nike launched the all-new Nike Ultra Flyknit soccer cleats.
The Nike Ultra Flyknit is not a regular boot silo but a cleat to show off what's the future of the Nike Mercurial, so Eden Hazard will very say goodbye to the cleat in late February 2018 with the launch of the all-new next-gen Nike Mercurial Vapor 12.
Did you know that Eden Hazard very often laced up in Nike Tiempo boots before he joined Chelsea? Let us know in the comments below.
QPR to Wear Blackout Third Kit at Home
Queens Park Rangers have confirmed that they will step away from their traditional blue and white hoops for their upcoming home fixture, wearing their 26-27 blackout third kit instead when they host Middlesbrough. The club stated that the team will sport the alternative strip at home for one match only.
The one-off switch is tied to a community initiative organized in partnership with principal shirt sponsor MrQ and charity partner KitAid. Under the campaign, supporters attending the match are encouraged to trade in their old football shirts in exchange for a complimentary blackout shirt, with the donated kits distributed to disadvantaged communities across the globe.
Crafted by Italian brand Erreà, the stealthy 26-27 third strip features tonal dark hoops accompanied by subdued, murdered-out club crest and sponsor details.
Chievo Verona 26-27 Away Kit Released
Italian Serie D side AC Chievo Verona and technical sponsor EVOL have officially unveiled the club's new away kit for the 26-27 campaign. Following the release of their classic gialloblù home shirt late last month, the newly revealed alternate strip introduces an artistic look built on a white base.
The EVOL Chievo Verona 26-27 away jersey features a white foundation accented by a bold, cracked-effect blue vertical stripe running down the center of the chest and echoed along the tops of the sleeves. Across the bottom hem, a tonal line illustration depicts the local Diga del Chievo weir, anchoring the shirt to the club's neighborhood roots. Fine yellow and blue trim outlines the collar and cuffs, with "Chievo Verona 1929" inscribed on the back of the neck and on the sleeve edges.
The design is completed with the club's crest over the heart, blue EVOL branding, and main sponsor Vitanuova printed across the front. The new away uniform is available directly through the club's official channels ahead of the 26-27 Serie D season.
Lillestrøm 26-27 European Kits Released
Norwegian Eliteserien side Lillestrøm SK has officially revealed a dedicated European kit collection designed by Puma for their 26-27 continental campaign. Following their 2025 Norwegian Cup victory that secured their return to the continental stage, the club unveiled the special shirts under the campaign slogan "Fra Romerike til Ævropa" ahead of their UEFA Europa League fixtures.
The home European shirt embraces a strong 1990s aesthetic in Lillestrøm's traditional yellow and black palette. It features a distinctive black band across the chest that frames the Puma cat and club crest, accompanied by a retro fold-over collar with white detailing, black accents along the sleeves, and the Romerike Sparebank sponsor on the front.
Accompanying the yellow home shirt is an away strip dressed in traditional red and black vertical stripes, finished with a neat crew collar, white branding, and the official UEFA Europa League competition and UEFA Foundation sleeve badges. A teal gradient jersey rounds out the European wardrobe, offering an alternative look for the Norwegian club during their European travels.
FC Barcelona to Sign Back-of-Shirt Sponsor Deal
FC Barcelona is set to introduce a new back-of-shirt sponsor starting from the 27-28 season, having reached an agreement with UAE-based real estate firm Ohana Development. The collaboration centers around a luxury residential complex in Dubai featuring Barça-branded facilities and stores, with the developer's branding placed directly beneath the player numbers on the lower back of the first-team kits.
The initial phase of the partnership spans three seasons, running from 27-28 through 29-30, generating approximately €10 million per year for a total of €30 million. Ohana's logo will only appear during domestic competitions, including La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España. In UEFA Champions League fixtures, the Fundació Barça emblem will remain on the back of the shirt, following its full domestic and European presence throughout the 26-27 campaign.
After the initial three-year kit sponsorship concluded, the agreement transitions into a long-term licensing deal lasting over two decades, during which Ohana will pay around €1 million annually to utilize the club's intellectual property in the Dubai development. Before the contract takes effect, the partnership must be submitted for approval by club delegates at Barcelona's Ordinary General Assembly on September 19, 2026, in compliance with club statutes regarding jersey advertising.
CD Santa Clara 26-27 Third Kit Released
CD Santa Clara has officially unveiled its new 26-27 third kit made by Puma. Officially named "Camisola Azul," the shirt completes the Portuguese club's wardrobe for the season, following the earlier launches of their red home and white away strips.
The Puma CD Santa Clara 2026-27 third jersey features a royal blue base decorated with an undulating wave graphic composed of tonal halftone dots across the front. Inspired by the Atlantic Ocean, the Azorean skies, and the archipelago's famous blue hydrangeas, the shirt incorporates contrasting white accents along the V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs. Centered on the chest sits the regional flag of the Azores, flanked by the white Puma cat logo and the monochrome blue-and-white Santa Clara crest.
Matching blue shorts and blue socks complete the full Santa Clara 26-27 third uniform. The kit goes on sale at the club's official physical stores over the weekend before becoming available online.
FK Bodø/Glimt 2026 Third Kit Released
FK Bodø/Glimt and Puma have officially unveiled the Norwegian club's new third kit for the 2026 season. Designed around a striking nocturnal theme, the shirt pays tribute to the country's essential night-shift and 24/7 workers, ranging from bakers and healthcare staff to ferry crews, airport maintenance personnel, and drivers.
The Puma Bodø/GlimPuma26 third jersey features a black base contrasted by vibrant neon yellow accents. The defining element is a sharp diagonal lightning-bolt stripe cutting across the front and sleeves, directly referencing high-visibility reflective tape commonly found on industrial workwear. The club crest, Puma cat logos, and all partner branding—including front-of-shirt sponsor SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge and Elkem—are executed in monochrome neon yellow to maintain a unified, high-contrast look.
Aligning with the club's PULS values and Puma's ongoing sustainability drive, the kit is manufactured using Puma's RE:fibre initiative, made from 95% recycled textile waste. The 2026 third kit is now available through the club's official online and physical stores, as well as select international retailers.