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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.