Chinese Club Have Villarreal Watermarks All Over Their Kit
Sometimes in football, a club's new kit looks suspiciously similar to another team's shirt (past or present), but the latest example from Chinese third division side Guangxi Lanhang FC leaves no questions about where the original design came from. Thanks to @gentle_wong for the spot.
Chinese Club's Kits Features Villarreal Watermarks
There have been plenty examples over the years of smaller brands and teams releasing shirts with more than a passing resemblance to those of another club or manufacturer. Sometimes it can be put down to coincidence, relatively basic designs, or even outright copying. The pattern on the new home and away away shirts from Chinese League 2 side Guangxi Lanhang FC definitely falls into the latter category.
The tonal watermarked pattern of various symbols looks quite inconspicuous from a distance, but it is actually made up of various crests and symbols of Villarreal C.F. The name of the club's La Ceramica stadium, as well as various components of their badge and an old Joma bird logo are repeated across the torso of the jersey.
The kit itself is made by Joma, although the Chinese side more than likely have a deal with a teamwear supplier rather than the brand themselves. Joma have been Villarreal's technical sponsor since 2016, but the pattern does not seem to have been used on any of the Yellow Submarine's match kits in that time. However, it may have appeared on some training shirts.
The Villarreal club crest is based heavily on the city's coat of arms.
Has Guangxi Lanhang's supplier recycled some old, unused Villareal gear by slapping a new badge and sponsor on it? Was the kit hastily designed with a random pattern applied to it? Or was the designer a Villarreal fan? Let's hear your theories in the comments.
Kylian Mbappe to Wear Special World Cup 'Top Scorer' Patch
Kylian Mbappe will wear a special insignia on his France kit to commemorate his achievement as the top scorer of the 2022 World Cup. Following his Golden Boot win in Qatar, where he scored eight goals, the French captain's jersey now features a dedicated patch recognizing this individual accolade.
This addition comes as part of a wider trend of specialized badges seen on national team kits during the 2026 World Cup. Alongside standard tournament patches, various players have been spotted wearing insignias denoting their debut or legacy status.
New Al Khulood Logo Revealed
Saudi Pro League club Al Khulood have officially unveiled their new logo following a public fan vote. The updated crest, which forms part of a broader visual identity refresh for the team, incorporates elements inspired by the club's home city of Ar Rass into the previous shield design. This marks the second time the club's visual identity has been updated since Ben Harburg's acquisition of the team.
