WhaleFin End Chelsea Sleeve Sponsorship Deal, Atlético Madrid Next?
- WhaleFin-Chelsea Deal Termination: Crypto firm WhaleFin terminated their €23 million a season sleeve sponsorship with Chelsea after just seven months due to financial difficulties stemming from the FTX collapse.
- Amber Group Financial Struggles: WhaleFin's parent company, Amber Group, has experienced significant financial setbacks, including staff layoffs, office closures, and reduced funding, leading to the Chelsea deal termination.
- Atlético Madrid Sponsorship in Jeopardy: WhaleFin's financial woes and the cancellation of the Chelsea deal raise concerns about the future of their €42 million a season main shirt sponsorship with Atlético Madrid.
Crypto firm WhaleFin have ended there €23 million a season sleeve sponsorship deal with Chelsea after only seven months due to financial difficulties. Could they end their Atlético Madrid sponsorship deal too?
Whalefin End Chelsea Deal
In May 2022, Cryptocurrency firm WhaleFin agreed to pay Chelsea €23 million a season to have their logo appear on the sleeves of their kits. Just seven months later, they have cancelled the deal. WhaleFin is owned by the Singapore-based Amber Group, who have been negatively impacted by the collapse of the FTX crypto exchange and are cutting costs in lots of areas.
Amber Group have reportedly sacked 40% of their staff and sent their remaining employees to work from home, having terminated the leases they had on office space. They have also put European and US expansion plans on hold. The company also fell short in their fund-raising efforts this year, bringing in only half of the expected $100 million. No information has emerged regarding what payments WhaleFin have already made to Chelsea, or how much of the $23 million the club will actually receive in the end.
Bad News for Atlético Madrid?
As well as the Chelsea deal, WhaleFin also signed on as the main shirt sponsor of Atlético Madrid in summer 2022. The contract is worth €42 million a season and is due to run for five years, but the cancellation of the Chelsea deal along with the money saving measures recently undertaken are not good omens. If WhaleFin's financial difficulties continue, they will likely have to reassess the financial commitment of the Atlético deal.
Already known to be highly volatile, the whole crypto sector has suffered from the FTX collapse. WhaleFin pulling the plug on their Chelsea deal, as well as Digitalbits failing to make payments to Inter as part of their agreement should be interpreted as warning signs for any clubs that have partnered with crypto firms, especially Atlético Madrid. Chelsea will be on the hunt for a new sleeve sponsor to fill the gap left by WhaleFin, and Atlético Madrid will likely take some cautionary steps just in case they too will need to find a new partner.
Do you think other crypto firms who have gotten into football club sponsorship will start pulling out of their deals too? Comment below.
Hércules 26-27 Home Kit Released
Spanish club Hércules CF and technical sponsor Kappa have officially unveiled the new home shirt for the 26-27 season. Following the release of their summer pre-season shirts, the Alicante-based side now presents their primary kit for the upcoming league campaign.
The Hércules CF 26-27 home jersey features traditional broad blue and white vertical stripes paired with a classic white polo collar. Kappa's signature Omini logos line the white sleeve panels in blue, matched by the chest logo and a subtle embossed watermark pattern throughout the fabric. Main sponsor EKOKAI features prominently across the center chest in black.
The Hércules CF 26-27 home kit was officially released on August 4 and is now available via the club's official store.
Juventus 26-27 Third Kit Leaked - Full Look
Official preview images of the Adidas Juventus 26-27 third kit have leaked online, showcasing the full uniform including the shirt, shorts, and socks. Shared by Juventus shirt account @La_Bianconera, the new photos provide a complete look at the final design ahead of its official launch.
The Juventus 26-27 third kit features a sleek black base highlighted by metallic gold accents on the Adidas logo, Juventus crest, Jeep sponsor, and three stripes along the shoulders. A grey flame graphic rises from the bottom hem across both the front and back of the shirt. On the upper back under the collar, a gold sign-off reads "YOUTH SINCE 1897", referencing the Latin root of the club's name.
Matching black shorts and black socks, both featuring gold Adidas stripes and logos, complete the full kit ensemble. Adidas is set to officially release the Juventus 26-27 third strip later this month.
Nike Cryo Shot Mercurial Vapor 1 OG Chrome Leaked
Nike is continuing to expand its lifestyle lineup by giving another historic football boot the street-ready treatment. Via @sneakermarketro, we have images of the upcoming Nike Cryo Shot Mercurial Vapor 1 OG in the iconic Chrome colorway, scheduled to release later in 2026.
The Cryo Shot series reimagines classic pitch footwear for everyday wear by preserving the original upper design and encasing the stud structure inside a clear, molded rubber midsole.
Inspired by the famous 2002 Nike Mercurial Vapor 1 worn by Ronaldo Nazario at the 2002 World Cup, this lifestyle sneaker closely follows the original aesthetics. The shoe features a metallic silver upper decorated with signature debossed speed lines along the sidewalls, a black lateral Swoosh, and bright volt green lining around the collar and heel. L
Underfoot, the defining clear translucent sole unit showcases the original stud configuration frozen within the durable street rubber.
Carrying the style code IQ8161-001, the Nike Cryo Shot Mercurial Vapor 1 OG Chrome is expected to launch in late 2026 with a retail price tag of $200.
Hércules CF 26-27 Home Kit Released
Spanish club Hércules CF and kit supplier Kappa have officially unveiled the new home shirt for the 26-27 season.
The Hércules CF 26-27 home jersey features traditional broad blue and white vertical stripes paired with a classic white polo collar. Kappa's signature Omini logos line the white sleeve panels in blue, matched by the chest logo and a subtle embossed watermark pattern throughout the fabric. Main sponsor EKOKAI features prominently on the center chest.
The Hércules CF 26-27 home kit went on sale August 4 and is available via the club's official store and Kappa for 79 Euros.
UD Ibiza 26-27 Home Kit Released - Designed by Brain Dead
Spanish club UD Ibiza has officially launched its home kit for the 26-27 season. Replacing previous kit supplier Puma, the club has partnered with global creative collective Brain Dead to design a unique jersey that blends football culture with streetwear aesthetics.
The UD Ibiza 26-27 home jersey features the club's signature sky blue base accented with white side paneling and subtle fabric texturing. Brain Dead's iconic head profile outline replaces the traditional kit manufacturer logo on the right chest, while a classic polo collar and matching sleeve cuffs showcase a grid-patterned knit in dark blue and yellow.
Boca Juniors Launch 26-27 Home Kit
Boca Juniors and Adidas have officially launched the new 26-27 home kit, bringing a brighter shade of blue back to the Argentine giants following the darker blue scheme worn in the previous campaign. The design stays true to the club's iconic identity, anchored by the signature bold yellow horizontal stripe running across the chest.
The 26-27 jersey features a yellow V-neck collar paired with yellow Adidas three stripes across the shoulders. Main sponsor Betsson is positioned in dark blue text inside the central yellow band, while sleeve sponsor Cetrogar appears in yellow. The traditional star-filled Boca Juniors crest is embroidered on the left chest, accompanied by a yellow sign-off reading Xeneize on the upper back collar.
EAFC Kit Creator Teases Brand-New Mobile UI
EAFC Kit Creator has revealed a first look at a brand-new mobile user interface, which is currently nearing release. The popular online tool allows creators to build custom kits for EA Sports FC and FIFA, and the upcoming update is designed to make designing on mobile devices significantly easier and more intuitive.
Crucially, the landscape view is replaced by a much more efficient portrait format, which way better uses the space.
Nike Cryo Shot Zoom M9 OG 'Mia Hamm' Shoes Leaked
Nike is set to expand its street football lifestyle lineup with the upcoming release of the Nike Cryo Shot Zoom M9 OG. Following the earlier launch of the Virgil Abloh Archives collaboration, this iteration brings back the classic colorway made famous by USWNT legend Mia Hamm during her historic 1999 Women's World Cup campaign. Huge thanks to @sneakermarketro for the leak.
The sneaker faithfully recreates the iconic design of the original boot, featuring a black quilted upper contrasted by a clean white heel counter and red accents. Nike's Cryo Shot technology encapsulates the original studded sole inside a transparent rubber outsole, allowing the pitch aesthetic to be worn on everyday streets while maintaining comfort and traction.
The Nike Cryo Shot Zoom M9 OG Mia Hamm is scheduled to release in early 2027 for a retail price of $200 via Nike SNKRS and select stockists.
FC Lugano 26-27 Away Kit Released
FC Lugano and kit supplier Erreà have officially launched the club's new away kit for the 26-27 Swiss Super League season. Following the reveal of their third shirt earlier this summer, the new away uniform introduces a sharp monochrome look for the Swiss side.
The Erreà FC Lugano 26-27 away jersey features an all-white base accented with black contrast piping, collar trim, and sleeve cuffs. A key element of the design is the subtle tone-on-tone V pattern integrated into the shoulders and upper chest, paying homage to the club's traditional V motif. Black club badges, brand markings, and sponsor logos complete the clean aesthetic
AS Roma 26-27 Away Kit Spotted on Sale Early
The AS Roma 26-27 away kit has been spotted on retail store shelves ahead of its official release. Photos taken directly from store racks reveal the full design of the new shirt prior to its planned launch later this week. Big thanks to @oDoYaN244.
Made by Adidas, the jersey features an ecru off-white base complemented by a bold yellow and red horizontal band across the chest. Positioned centrally over the band is Roma's historic crest used between 1945 and 1949. A red Adidas Trefoil logo is placed above the chest stripe, matching the trim on the collar and sleeve cuffs. Additional details include red Three Stripes along the shoulders and a back collar sign-off featuring the text ROMA CHIAMÒ along with a vintage ASR monogram.
The official release is scheduled for August 8.
Diplo Spotted Wearing Unreleased Chicago Fire 2026 Third Kit
American DJ and producer Diplo has been spotted wearing the unreleased Chicago Fire 26-27 third kit during a DJ set at Sound-Bar in Chicago over Lollapalooza weekend. The unexpected appearance gives supporters a full, clear look at the upcoming Adidas jersey prior to its official launch. Bi
The Chicago Fire 26-27 third shirt features a predominantly white base centered around a broad navy blue horizontal chest stripe bordered by thin red lines. White CHICAGO lettering is positioned prominently across the front chest band. The modern Chicago Fire crest sits on the left side of the chest opposite a navy Adidas logo, while navy three stripes run along the shoulders and matching red and navy detailing trims the collar and sleeve cuffs.
The club is scheduled to officially reveal the 26-27 third kit around mid-August 2026, with the team expected to wear the new uniform on the pitch for the first time on August 16.
Accidental Teaser: Schalke 26-27 Away Kit Spotted in Background of Official Photo
FC Schalke 04 fans have spotted what appears to be an accidental teaser of the club's upcoming 26-27 away kit in an official photo featuring forward Edin Džeko. In the background of a locker room image, eagle-eyed supporters noticed the edge of an unreleased jersey hanging on the left side and reflected in the mirror. The visible section shows a white base with dark blue shoulder sections and white Adidas Three Stripes running along the top. Big thanks to @hxnnes04
This subtle leak aligns closely with information surrounding Schalke's 26-27 away strip. Produced by Adidas, the jersey is expected to embrace a classic retro theme inspired by historical kit designs from the late 1980s. Key features rumored for the white away shirt include a traditional polo or V-neck collar, the iconic Adidas Trefoil logo, and a vintage Schalke crest.
While Schalke have already presented their new home jersey and vibrant green third kit for the 26-27 campaign, the retro away shirt has not yet been officially released. Its presence in the background of official promotional media indicates that marketing shoots are complete and that a formal launch from the club should take place soon.