Aston Villa Announce Kappa Kit Deal
May 20, 2019, by Pat
Aston Villa, confirming earlier rumors, today officially announced that they've closed a sponsorship deal with Italian brand Kappa to become the English club's new kit supplier from next season.
Villa will have the chance to claim promotion to the 2019-20 Premier League in the Championship Play-Off Final this weekend.
A three-year contract (until 2022) was signed between Aston Villa and Kappa, who replace local brand Luke after just one year. As confirmed earlier, Luke will continue to be affiliated with Villa by virtue of being the team's official formalwear supplier.
Aston Villa Chief Commercial Officer Nicola Ibbetson said: “I am delighted that Aston Villa have partnered with such a recognisable and iconic brand who have a long-standing reputation for delivering quality, eye-catching performance sportswear.
Just like with Luke before, the new sponsorship forms part of a three-party deal that also involves sports merchandise company Fanatics. According reports prior to today's announcement, Fanatics will be responsible for the kit designs, as last season, with Kappa just having their logo applied to them at the end.
“At the forefront of our decision was the key requirement to find a partner that would put design at the heart of the process and do justice to our famous claret and blue colours.
Kappa’s UK Managing Director, Mark Ward said: “Aston Villa is a world-class club with a strong identity and heritage. This new partnership with Aston Villa reinforces once again our strong ambition in football connecting our brand with one of the biggest clubs in the UK. We are excited to be a key part of Aston Villa’s global commercial strategy, serving players and supporters across the world thanks to a large product proposition from sports to lifestyle.”
Fanatics International President, Steve Davis, said: “We have had an incredibly successful first season working with Aston Villa and we are delighted that an innovative and world-renowned brand like Kappa has joined the partnership. We are looking forward to working with Kappa, who have produced some of the most iconic and stylish kits throughout the years, to give Villa fans another kit that they will love next season.”
Are you happy to see Aston Villa team up with Kappa from next season? Drop us a line below, and check out the 2019-2020 Kit Overview for more.
Adidas Argentina Messi Farewell Kit Teased
Adidas and the Argentine Football Association have teased a special-edition commemorative jersey celebrating Lionel Messi for his final appearance with the national team. Following the announcement of his retirement from international duty after a legendary career spanning 207 caps and 125 goals, Messi is set to wear the bespoke design in his farewell match against Benin at the Estadio Monumental on October 6, 2026.
The unique kit departs from the traditional striping format, opting for a sky-blue base accented by a single broad white central stripe. Tonal rays inspired by the Sun of May radiate across the front and back of the torso. In a rare personal touch, Messi's signature 'M' logo replaces the traditional Adidas performance logo on the right chest in metallic gold, balanced by the gold-accented three-star Argentina crest on the left. The crew-neck collar and sleeve cuffs are finished in black with sleek gold edging.
On the reverse, the shirt features gold 'MESSI 10' printing framed by the radiant sunburst motif, topped by a small Sun of May emblem just below the rear collar. Messi previewed the shirt on social media with the message "One last match... A jersey for a lifetime," offering a fitting tribute as he prepares to close his historic international chapter.
