James Rodríguez Officially Joins New Balance
Dec 2, 2023, by Phan Tich Giay
- New Balance Sponsorship: James Rodríguez has signed with New Balance to be an ambassador for their Tekela boots after a period without a boot sponsor.
- Adidas Contract End: Adidas did not renew James Rodríguez's contract at the end of 2022 due to his declining performance.
- Potential Wider Deal: New Balance will also be making kits for São Paulo, suggesting the deal with James Rodríguez could extend beyond just boots.
After almost a year without a football boot sponsor (from the end of 2022), Colombian football star James Rodríguez has officially signed a contract with New Balance to become a New Balance Tekela boot ambassador.
James Rodríguez x New Balance Deals
With his contract with Adidas set to expire at the end of 2022, James has worn a variety of boot brands including Nike Tiempo, Mizuno Morelia Neo 3 and since August until now, he regularly wears New Balance Tekela shoes.
After an outstanding performance at the 2014 World Cup, James became the top star at the time. However, James was unable to maintain his form and played increasingly poorly. As a result, Adidas decided not to renew James' contract at the end of 2022.
Interestingly, New Balance will also be making the kits of São Paulo from 2024, replacing Adidas. James Rodríguez's deal with New Balance could extend beyond just his football boots.
Is New Balance the right choice for James Rodríguez? Let us know in the comments below.
Grêmio Announce Pitaco as New Front-of-Shirt Sponsor
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense have officially announced Pitaco as their new principal front-of-shirt sponsor. The three-year agreement sees the Brazilian sports platform take over the prime central chest position on the club's New Balance jerseys. This long-awaited deal ends a vacancy of roughly ten months for the Tricolor Gaúcho's main shirt sponsor slot following the early termination of their previous deal with Alfa Bet in late 2025.
Originally established as a fantasy sports company before expanding into regulated sports betting under the international Draftea group, Pitaco will feature across Grêmio's kits through 2029. The partnership is reportedly valued between 40 million and 46 million Brazilian Real per year (around 8 million USD/year) , totaling around 140 million Real across the entire three-year period, placing Grêmio's uniform among the five most valuable commercial shirts in Brazilian football.
The white Pitaco logo and wordmark sit directly across the middle of the iconic blue, black, and white striped kit, joining existing partners such as Banrisul, Coral, and Havan. Grêmio are scheduled to debut the newly branded shirts immediately in upcoming Campeonato Brasileiro matches.
Urawa Red Diamonds 26-27 Third Kit Released
Japanese J1 League club Urawa Red Diamonds and Nike have officially unveiled the team's new third kit for the 26-27 season. Following the release of the primary strips earlier in the summer, the new uniform introduces a striking blackout look for the autumn-spring campaign.
The Nike Urawa Red Diamonds 26-27 third shirt is predominantly black and features an embossed tonal lightning pattern running vertically down the body. Inspired by the thunderous cheers and energy of the club's supporters, the geometric graphic creates a subtle light-catching effect. For the first time since 2018, the Nike Swoosh appears in gold, joined by contrasting red ventilation stripes along the sides and clean white sponsor prints across the chest and back.
Completing the strip are matching black shorts and socks detailed with gold branding. Crafted from 100% recycled polyester as part of Nike's Move to Zero sustainability initiative, the Urawa Red Diamonds 26-27 third kit goes on sale on September 25, 2026, via the club's official online store.
Persib Bandung 26-27 Shopee Cup Kits Released
Indonesian side Persib Bandung and Spanish manufacturer Kelme have officially released their new dedicated kit set for the 26-27 ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup. Following custom wardrobe lineups launched for both the domestic campaign and the AFC Champions League Two, Persib maintains a distinct look for each competition they contest this season.
The Persib 26-27 Shopee Cup home jersey is dressed in the club's customary royal blue, elevated by a tonal graphic pattern themed "Resonansi Kesetiaan" (Resonance of Loyalty), representing sound waves and echoing the roaring passion of the supporters. The away shirt opts for an eye-catching blue and white checkerboard pattern layered over subtle graphic textures. Both jerseys feature clean white accents on the collar and cuffs, accompanied by the Kelme logo and front sponsor NexAI.
Two goalkeeper jerseys—one in textured black and another in light ice blue—complete the collection. The Persib Bandung 26-27 Shopee Cup kits are released in both authentic Player Issue and Supporter Edition versions.
Adidas Argentina Messi 2026 'Farewell' Kit Leaked - 4 New Images
Footy Headlines can leak 4 new images of the special Adidas Argentina Messi 'Farewell' shirt, which will be released soon.
The kit features a unique central white stripe flanked by sky blue sides, a sunburst graphic, Messi’s 'M' logo in metallic gold, and a special gold Sun of May graphic housing his number 10 on the upper back.
Behind the Scenes: Kylian Mbappé On Football Boot Prototypes Revealed
Following the announcement that Kylian Mbappé has parted ways with Nike to join Swiss running brand On as a global ambassador and equity partner, new behind-the-scenes images have surfaced revealing the development of his first-ever signature football boot. The Swiss brand is directly adapting its revolutionary LightSpray technology to football footwear, working closely with Mbappé and On Director of Football Thierry Henry to craft an ultra-lightweight speed boot.
The development images provide a close look at the technology and early components taking shape inside On's innovation lab. A testing board displays various stages of seamless, robotically sprayed uppers created without traditional stitching or adhesives to minimize weight and eliminate distraction. Alongside custom foot lasts molded to Mbappé's exact specifications, the images reveal an eye-catching iridescent chrome soleplate equipped with aggressive chevron and angled studs designed specifically for explosive linear acceleration.
Mbappé has already been spotted testing whiteout prototypes during Real Madrid training sessions throughout the early stages of the 26-27 campaign. While he is set to showcase the boots on pitch and in virtual form this season, the first commercial release of On's LightSpray football boots is not scheduled to hit retail shelves until 2027.
Guadeloupe 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Tempo Sport has officially unveiled the new home and away kits for the Guadeloupe national football team for the 26-27 international cycle. Continuing their partnership with the Ligue Guadeloupéenne de Football (LGF), the Austrian manufacturer has delivered bespoke designs deeply rooted in the Caribbean archipelago's natural landscape and cultural heritage.
The Guadeloupe 26-27 home shirt arrives in an earthy, deep red palette that pays homage to the iconic La Soufrière volcano and its surrounding ecosystem. Blended into a traditional madras-inspired patchwork pattern, the shirt features a rich tapestry of island motifs, including volcanic topographic lines, hibiscus blooms, banana leaves, mangrove roots, palms, and hummingbirds.
Completing the set, the Guadeloupe 26-27 away jersey draws inspiration from the island's dense tropical rainforests. It is styled in vibrant shades of green across wide tonal stripes, with detailed graphics depicting lush foliage, palm fronds, and the island's distinctive volcanic terrain.
No More Givova: Adidas SS Juve Stabia 26-27 Away Kit Released
Italian Serie B club SS Juve Stabia has officially revealed its new away kit for the 26-27 campaign. The new strip is part of the club's technical partnership with Adidas, facilitated through teamwear specialist Linea Oro Sport, following the conclusion of the previous deal with Givova.
The Adidas SS Juve Stabia 26-27 away jersey features a clean white base detailed with subtle yellow vertical pinstripes down the front. The design is complemented by a yellow crew neck collar, while dark navy blue appears on the iconic Adidas Three Stripes along the shoulders and the Adidas logo on the chest. The club's crest is positioned over the left chest.
The launch photoshoot places a strong emphasis on the Castellammare di Stabia community, highlighting fans across various generations and personal milestones proudly wearing the new away shirt.