Exclusive: Nike to Release All-New "Luna" Football Boots - Tested By Tchouameni On the Same Day as Our First Leak
Apr 21, 2023, by Chris
- New Boot Release: Nike is set to launch a new football boot called the Phantom Luna in July 2023.
- Female Focused Design: The Phantom Luna is Nike's first football boot primarily developed using insights from female players.
- Prototype Testing: Real Madrid player Aurelien Tchouameni was seen training in a whiteout prototype version of the Nike Phantom Luna.
Update: Aurelien Tchouameni, the French footballer playing for Real Madrid, was spotted today during a training session wearing a new prototype football boot from Nike. We can confirm that the boots are the Nike Phantom Luna, which we leaked information about just a few hours after the training session took place.
Tchouameni Trains in Whiteout Nike Phantom Luna Prototype Football Boots
Tchouameni, who frequently uses Nike's Phantom GX range, was seen wearing a whiteout version of the Nike Phantom Luna boots. Not much is visible from the images, but we can see that the outsole does not have an external heel counter and the upper appears similar to the player's favorite Nike Hyperpvenom Phantom 3.
20 April 2023: Exclusive: Nike to Release All-New "Luna" Football Boots
Tchouameni is a highly regarded young midfielder who has been linked with a move to several top European clubs. His choice to wear Nike's new prototype boot is sure to generate excitement among football fans who are always looking for the latest technology and style in football boots.
In around 3 months, Nike are set to launch a new football boot, the Phantom Luna.
Nike Phantom Luna 2023 Football Boots - First Nike Soccer Cleats Primarily Developed With Female Insights
The Nike Phantom Luna is the brand's first football boot primarily developed with insights from female players. Although the boot was developed with female footballers in mind, it will also be worn by male players.
57 players in the top 6 leagues have torn their ACL this year! Of these, 5 were even in the top 20 at the Ballon d'Or.
— Soccerdonna (@soccerdonna) December 29, 2022
We wish them all a speedy recovery!#AlexiaPutellas #BethMead #CatarinaMacário #VivianneMiedema #MarieAntoinetteKatoto #acl pic.twitter.com/dQ6vNUiRqA
One reason for Nike to develop a football boot with Women's players in specific mind are injuries. Female athletes have a much higher risk for knee injuries, specifically for ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tears. Women are four to five times more likely to experience an ACL tear compared to men. Some possible reasons for this include differences in muscle mass and anatomical differences in the knee joint between men and women.
The Phantom Luna is based on the Nike Phantom GX. Like the Phantom GX, it is designed to help players with razor-sharp cuts and pristine ball possession.
There are no leaked pictures of the all-new Nike Phantom Luna football shoes yet.
Nike Phantom Luna - Features
- All-new football boot developed with Women's insights
- Builds on the Nike Phantom GX
- Made for female and male players
- Top model only in the beginning
- Exact tech features not known yet
- Price: around 280 USD
- Release date: July 2023
Nike's Phantom Luna is only launching in top models of the silo. We expect the Nike Phantom Luna soccer cleats to be launched shortly ahead of the 2023 Women's World Cup, which kicks off on July 20, 2023.
Do you look forward to the new Phantom Luna football boots from Nike? Let us know in the comments below, and check out the Boot Calendar for all Nike football boot releases and leaks.
Puma 26-27 'Level Up' Boot Pack Released
Puma has officially launched the special-edition 'Level Up' boot pack for the 26-27 season. Drawing inspiration from classic 8-bit video games and retro arcade culture, the collection delivers a distinct aesthetic with pixelated artwork and bright colors across the Ultra Nitro and Future silos.
The Ultra Nitro speed boot comes in an electric yellow base accented with multi-colored 8-bit graphics along the side and soleplate, complete with a pixelated Puma logo. The Future creative boot features a bright blue upper covered in arcade-themed graphics, including pixelated health bars, heart meters, and retro controller details.
As a limited-edition release for the start of the 26-27 season, the Puma 'Level Up' pack will be worn on pitch by select Puma players and is now available at select retailers and online.
Nike Kobe 8 Protro Mambacurial Available Early at Nike AFI
The Nike Kobe 8 Protro Mambacurial has made an early in-store appearance at Nike AFI in Bucharest, weeks before its anticipated global release. First introduced in 2013, the Mambacurial colorway is one of the most iconic crossover designs between basketball and football, drawing direct inspiration from Kobe Bryant's passion for soccer and Nike's legendary speed boot line.
Designed to mirror the classic Nike Mercurial Vapor IX Fireberry colorway, the sneaker features a bright pink and plum gradient upper paired with an Electric Green forefoot Swoosh and matching outsole. The inner medial side retains the massive white NIKE branding that defined the original Mercurial boot aesthetic. Updated to Protro standards, the shoe offers modernized cushioning and traction performance while preserving its original 2013 look.
Following its early availability at select Nike stores, the Nike Kobe 8 Protro Mambacurial is scheduled for an official wider release on September 19, 2026, with a retail price of $200.
Leyton Orient 26-27 Home Kit Released
English League One club Leyton Orient have officially unveiled the 2026-27 home kit. Made by Meyba, the new shirt marks the beginning of the Spanish brand's partnership with the club while bringing back one of Orient's most iconic historic designs.
The Meyba Leyton Orient 2026-27 home shirt features the club's traditional red base with classic white vertical braces, inspired by the famous kits of the late 1970s. Meyba's signature shoulder trim, a centrally placed reflective club crest and subtle embossed crest graphics across the fabric complete the retro-inspired look, while an "East London" inscription appears on the back of the neck.
What do you think of the new Leyton Orient 2026-27 home kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Tottenham 26-27 Lifestyle Shirt Leaked
Footy Headlines can leak the official images of Tottenham's 2026-27 third lifestyle shirt, featuring an inverted color scheme compared to the club's 2026-27 third kit.
The lifestyle shirt comes in a dark purple base with lighter purple vertical stripes, mirroring the design of the 2026-27 third kit.
Sunderland 26-27 Home Kit Criticized Over Stripe Alignment Flaw
Following the official release of the Sunderland 26-27 home kit by Hummel, supporters and shirt collectors receiving their retail jerseys have highlighted a noticeable pattern alignment issue. Designed as a tribute to the club's historic 1937 FA Cup-winning side, the home shirt pairs traditional red and white vertical stripes with a classic buttoned collar and a retro shield crest. However, close-up photos of physical retail shirts reveal severe stripe misalignment along the upper chest and shoulder seams.
As highlighted by kit content creator @Kitkingdom83 on social media, the vertical stripes on the front body do not align smoothly with the sleeve panels. On both sides of the upper torso, the red body stripes abruptly meet contrasting white panels or cut off diagonally across the raglan seam, creating an awkward visual break right above the Hummel logo and club badge. Fans online quickly agreed with the criticism, pointing out that better pattern matching should be expected for a flagship kit release.
Raglan sleeve construction frequently poses pattern-matching challenges for manufacturers, especially when dealing with traditional vertical stripes. While the overall design concept and historical touches of the Sunderland 26-27 home kit have been well-received, the visible alignment flaws on retail versions raise quality control concerns for Hummel as the club prepares for the upcoming campaign.
Willem II 26-27 Away Kit Released
Willem II and new kit supplier Meyba have officially unveiled the club's new away kit for the 26-27 season. Celebrating Willem II's 130th anniversary, the jersey is designed as a royal tribute to 130 years of club history.
The Meyba Willem II 26-27 away jersey features a rich red base decorated with elegant gold accents. A subtle jacquard pattern woven directly into the fabric features historic club crests from throughout Willem II's 130-year existence. Gold detailing is applied to the collar, sleeve cuffs, main sponsors, and Meyba's signature shoulder taping, while the club crest appears in gold with 1896-2026 written underneath.
Additional details include the anniversary dates 1896-2026 printed on the lower front hem of the shirt. The new away kit will be used during the team's 26-27 Eredivisie campaign.
Adidas Nürnberg 26-27 Away Lifestyle Collection Released
Adidas and 1. FC Nürnberg have officially launched the club's away lifestyle collection for the 26-27 season. Released alongside the new away kit, the retro-inspired range is part of the Adidas Originals line, offering fans off-pitch apparel heavily influenced by classic football heritage.
The collection features a distinct throwback aesthetic highlighted by the classic Adidas Trefoil logo and the iconic 1. FCN crest. Key garments include track jackets, hoodies, t-shirts, and long-sleeve tops styled with color-blocked chest bands and signature three-stripe detailing along the shoulders and sleeves in the club's traditional red, white, and black colors.
Designed to bridge matchday tradition with everyday streetwear, the full 26-27 Adidas Originals collection is available now through the club's online shop and select retail partners.
Jude Bellingham Spotted in Birmingham City 26-27 Home Kit
Jude Bellingham was among the spectators at St Andrew's for Birmingham City's pre-season friendly against Barcelona, wearing the club's new 2026-27 home shirt with his iconic No. 22 on the back.
The Real Madrid midfielder came through Birmingham City's academy before completing a then-club-record £26 million move to Borussia Dortmund in 2020. The transfer played a key role in helping Birmingham overcome a difficult financial period.
Despite spending just one season with the first team, the club later made the unprecedented decision to permanently retire the No. 22 shirt in his honour, cementing Bellingham's status as one of the greatest academy graduates in Birmingham City's history.
