Reebok Officially Free from Adidas - Time to Come Back to Football?
Adidas’ sale of Reebok was officially finalized last week. The Three Stripes paid $3.8 billion for Reebok back in 2006 and have now sold the brand to Authentic Brands Group (ABG) for approximately $2.5 billion. Here we take a look at what that means for the brand who used to be a force in football.
What Next For Reebok?
Now that they are now longer a subsidiary of Adidas, Reebok will have more freedom to operate. Through their new ownership by ABG, they have lined up new partnerships with JD Sports, Foot Locker and New Guards Group to help expand their global distribution network. The Reebok Design Group, based in Boston, will be the central hub of all product design and creation, although their new partners will also have a say in these matters, depending on what is best for their market.
“So now, getting to embrace sport more and having the freedom to work with whoever we want around the world, these are the liberties, so to speak, that we haven’t had over the last few years.”
Complex recently did an interview with Todd Krinsky, senior vice president and GM of product at Reebok, and Nick Woodhouse, president and GMO of ABG, in which the two men discuss in detail how these partnerships will work, and the extent of the input the partners will have.
A Return to Football?
One of the most interesting points of the interview was when Krinsky and Woodhouse discussed the importance of their new partners in the decision making and design processes for local markets.
“And I think anyone would agree to sit in Boston or in London or whatnot and make a decision for Hong Kong or Shanghai or Calgary for that matter, is probably not a good long-term strategy”.
It seems as though Reebok will be very open to communication and collaboration with these new partners on products and ranges made available in different parts of the world.
“If there’s a separate European range that is needed for footwear, for apparel, they’ll (partners) work with Todd on creating that range.”
These comments suggest that JD, Foot Locker and New Guards Group would hold quite a lot of sway in the Reebok products they will be selling, so could these partners convince Reebok to get back into the football market?
It would certainly be profitable for them. If JD Sports and Foot Locker were the exclusive retailers of Reebok football apparel, and Reebok signed a Premier League team, there would be a lot of money to be made on the sale of shirts, training and lifestyle gear. With Reebok’s reputation and status as an “athletic lifestyle brand”, combined with the ongoing trends of throwback kit references and the mixing of football and streetwear, they could surely slot back into the game with ease.
“We’re one of the few brands—and you know the other ones—that can play in sport, can be on the field to play on Saturdays and Sundays and then can also have a rich heritage with classics.”
John Salter, CEO of ABG has ties to Botafogo owner and Crystal Palace shareholder John Textor, who has already spoken of the brand’s desire to make a comeback to the sport, potentially with his Brazilian side. Businessmen love scratching each other’s backs, so could a Reebok deal with Botafogo lead to the brand also signing Palace?
While this is all speculation for now, the timing could be right for them to start thinking about a possible move back to a sport where they were once a major player. Free from the shackles of Adidas, they can get back to doing things on their own terms.
Would you like to see Reebok make a comeback to football? Let us know in the comments.
Valenciennes FC 26-27 Home Kit Released
French club Valenciennes FC and Hummel have officially unveiled the new Valenciennes 26-27 home kit. Celebrating the town's artistic heritage, the jersey draws direct inspiration from a famous local cultural landmark.
The Hummel Valenciennes 26-27 home jersey features a classic red base adorned with white geometric line graphics inspired by the stained glass window of the Musée des Beaux-Arts. The kit is finished with a red and white V-neck collar, iconic Hummel chevrons on the shoulders, and white sponsor details on the front.
Atlético Madrid Launch Special "Over the Pitch" Nameset
Atlético Madrid have teamed up with South Korean football culture studio Over the Pitch to reveal a special custom nameset collaboration. Building on their established relationship through the Atleti Creators Club, the new release introduces artistic typography and custom back-of-shirt graphics rooted in traditional Korean heritage.
The standout feature of the design is a striking tiger illustration that cascades down the center number, paired with unique Korean-style lettering for player names. Showcased across both the red-and-white home kit and dark away shirt, the photoshoot features traditional Korean interior settings to complement the artistic theme.
This special-edition printing offers supporters a distinct, collectible alternative to standard competition fonts. It continues the trend of top European clubs partnering with regional creative studios for custom pre-season and lifestyle font releases.
Charlton Athletic 26-27 Third Kit Released
Charlton Athletic and Reebok have officially launched the club's new third kit for the 26-27 season. Taking inspiration from the beloved 1994-96 change strip, the jersey offers a bold update to a retro classic, blending vibrant purple and electric blue across a dynamic graphic pattern on the front and sleeves.
The shirt features a ribbed crew neck collar and incorporates Reebok's RBK Dry moisture-wicking technology. Rather than the full club badge, the standalone sword from Charlton's crest is embroidered on the left chest as well as below the rear collar. White logos for front sponsor RSK, TodayTix on the back, and Christopher Ward on the sleeve complete the technical layout.
Matching purple shorts and socks complete the full kit. The Charlton Athletic 26-27 Reebok third kit goes on sale starting Friday, July 31, online and at the Valley Superstore.
Como 26-27 Home Kit Debuted
Como officially debuted their new 2026-27 home kit during yesterday's friendly against Villarreal. It delivers a clean, classic, and elegant look on the pitch.
Al-Ula FC 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Italian sportswear brand Kappa and Saudi club Al-Ula FC have officially launched their new home and away kits for the 26-27 season. Both designs incorporate custom graphic textures alongside the club's "Arabian Leopards" tagline printed on the upper back collar.
The Al-Ula 26-27 home kit features a deep navy blue base paired with elegant gold detailing for the logos, sponsor prints, and collar trim. A subtle tonal pattern decorates the front panel, giving the jersey a refined aesthetic.
Complementing the home kit, the Al-Ula 26-27 away shirt comes in a sand white colorway featuring a classic polo collar. Deep blue accents appear on the Kappa logo, crest, and shoulder panels, which showcase patterned striping across the sleeves.
AD Mérida 26-27 Away Kit Released
Spanish Primera Federación club AD Mérida and technical supplier Macron have officially launched the club's new away kit for the 26-27 season. Named 'Aura', the new second shirt was unveiled alongside the club's new home strip during a presentation event at the historic Templo de Diana in Mérida.
The AD Mérida 26-27 away jersey features an eye-catching design built on a dark base, covered in a vibrant geometric teal line pattern across the front torso. Black sleeves, collar trim, and subtle teal accents on the sleeve cuffs complement the detailed body graphics. White branding, including the Macron logo and front sponsor text, completes the look.
NK Veres Rivne 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
Ukrainian Premier League club NK Veres Rivne and Spanish sportswear brand Kelme have officially launched the team's new home, away, and third kits for the 26-27 season. The release marks a return to Kelme for the Ukrainian side following a single season wearing kits produced by their in-house brand, Buntar.
The new collection brings custom looks for each kit, unified by sponsor logos from Betking that adapt seamlessly to match the color scheme of each shirt. The 26-27 home kit sports a vibrant red look featuring an abstract tonal geometric pattern, accompanied by black trim on the collar and sleeve cuffs. The away kit presents a clean white base with subtle horizontal line graphics and a sharp black traditional collar.
Rounding out the collection is a striking purple third kit featuring dynamic diagonal pattern details on the front, complemented by black shorts. All three kits feature the Ukrainian flag patch prominently placed on the upper chest above the club crest and technical sponsor logos.
Emelec 2026 Third Kit Released
Ecuadorian club CS Emelec and adidas have officially launched the club's new 2026 third kit. Marking the first time in twenty years that Emelec will wear green, the eye-catching shirt breaks away from the team's traditional blue identity while retaining key historic design motifs.
The Emelec 2026 third strip comes in a dark petroleum green base color, highlighted by adidas' signature three stripes in white on the shoulders and light teal graphics across the front. A subtle diagonal cross-band pattern covers the chest, giving a nod to Emelec's classic sash design. The front of the jersey features the logo of SOLCA (Sociedad de Lucha Contra el Cáncer), continuing a special partnership to raise cancer awareness.
The kit is completed with dark green shorts and socks featuring matching teal and white details. Emelec will debut the new third kit in their upcoming LigaPro fixture against Aucas at the Estadio George Capwell, with replica shirts priced at US$99.99 for men and US$84.99 for women.
Manchester City Reveal Special Asia Tour Nameset in Hong Kong
As part of their pre-season trip to Asia, Manchester City have unveiled a special custom font and nameset during their event in Hong Kong. The unique printing style was showcased at the club's Harbour Pitch pop-up activation, giving local supporters an exclusive custom option for the 26-27 home kit.
The special font features a bold, rounded bubbly silhouette with stylized graphic cutouts integrated directly into the numbers, including skull motifs and exaggerated curves. Displayed on jerseys for players such as Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, and Antoine Semenyo, the playful design offers a distinct creative departure from standard Premier League and cup competition typefaces.
This limited tour nameset is available at official event pop-ups in Hong Kong during the 26-27 Asia Tour. While it serves primarily as a special retail customization option for local fans, it adds a unique collectible twist to City's summer pre-season campaign in Asia.