Boot Watch: Vapor I Return, Early Next-Gen Phantom 360 Debut, and Next-Gen Adidas F50 Testing
- CR7 Tribute: Nike released limited-edition Mercurial Vapor I remake boots in honor of Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Early Phantom Debut: Alexia Putellas unexpectedly debuted the next-generation Nike Phantom 360 boots in a match.
- F50 Testing: Manchester United's Women's team is testing various models of the upcoming Adidas F50 2025 boots.
As every Monday, it's time for Footy Headlines, in partnership with Bootsclub, to bring you the most interesting football boot stories of the past week; this week was the most interesting of the year for us, so far.
1. Nike Revives History with Exclusive CR7 Origins Boot
Nike has brought back a piece of football boot history with the exclusive Mercurial Vapor I Regen 'CR7 Origins'. The retro-inspired boots were spotted on the feet of Cristiano Ronaldo himself, as well as Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho, who has never hidden that CR7 is his idol and inspiration.
2. Alexia Putellas Debuts Next-Gen Nike Phantom 360
Barcelona star Alexia Putellas has given the next-generation Nike Phantom 360 an unexpectedly early match debut. The Ballon d'Or winner was spotted in whiteout prototypes, suggesting she's taken an immediate liking to the upcoming model. Nike likely didn't plan for this early reveal, but it's certainly a good sign that a player of her caliber has adopted them so quickly.
3. Man United Women's Team Testing All Versions of Upcoming Adidas F50
Manchester United's Women's team appears to be the testing ground for the next-generation Adidas F50 2025 boots. Adidas apparently made a special delivery to the club's training ground, supplying F50 athletes with whiteout prototypes of various models in the upcoming line.
4. Noussair Mazraoui Moving to Under Armour?
Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui has been spotted wearing Under Armour Shadow Elite 3.0 boots instead of his usual Nike Mercurial Vapor 16, indicating an imminent supplier change. This would mark another significant signing for Under Armour.
New Strategy: Under Armour Signs Several Medium Players from Top Teams
5. Griezmann Continues Partnership with Decathlon Kipsta
Antoine Griezmann wore yet another colorway of Decathlon's Kipsta football boots, perfectly matching his Atletico Madrid kit. The French international is THE ambassador for the budget-friendly boot brand, showing that performance doesn't always come with a premium price tag.
6. Moise Kean's Custom "Chosen" Adidas F50
Perhaps the most unique boot spot of the week comes from Italy, where Moise Kean turned heads wearing custom-painted laceless Adidas F50 boots featuring the word "CHOSEN" prominently displayed. The striking design made for one of the most eye-catching custom boots we've seen this season.
For daily updates on the world of football boots, follow @bootsclub on Instagram, and for all leaks and releases, check our Boot Calendar
What do you think about Putellas wearing prototype boots in a match months before the official release? Let us know in the comments below.
Nottingham Forest Announce Marex Front-of-Shirt Sponsorship Deal
Nottingham Forest have officially announced a multi-year Principal Partnership with global financial services platform Marex. Starting with the 26-27 season, Marex will serve as the club's new front-of-shirt sponsor, replacing gambling brand Bally's. The agreement is reported to be worth approximately £25 million over a three-year period.
The clean Marex wordmark and arrow logo will be featured across the front of the Nottingham Forest men's and women's first-team playing and replica kits, as well as the club's netball team dresses. In addition to primary kit placement, Marex will become Forest's official Global Markets Partner and exclusive provider of foreign exchange and financial services.
The announcement resolves Forest's search for a principal partner just ahead of the new Premier League campaign, following a pre-season without a front-of-shirt sponsor. The transition also aligns with the Premier League's upcoming voluntary ban on gambling companies occupying front-of-shirt sponsorship inventory.
Kyoto Sanga 26-27 AFC Champions League Elite Home Kit Released
J1 League side Kyoto Sanga have officially revealed their new home kit for the 26-27 AFC Champions League Elite season, made by Puma.
Compared to the domestic home kit, this new design features a colder shade of purple, decorated with a half-tone diamond pattern across the base. The strip uses a simple template from Puma, pairing the purple jersey with black shorts and purple shorts.
What do you think of the Kyoto Sanga 26-27 ACLE home kit by Puma? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Port FC 26-27 Third Kit Released
Thai League 1 club Port FC have officially unveiled their new 2026-27 third kit. Made by Japanese brand Mizuno, the new shirt completes the club's kit lineup for the upcoming campaign.
The Mizuno Port FC 2026-27 third shirt features a black and white base with a bold halftone dot gradient across the front and back. Solid black sleeves frame the design, while segmented black and white detailing appears on the V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs. The club crest, Mizuno logo and sponsor branding complete the look.
What do you think of the new Port FC 2026-27 third kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Limited-Edition Dundalk FC 100-Year Centenary Kit Released
Dundalk FC and Macron have officially launched a special limited-edition centenary jersey to celebrate 100 years of the club's membership in the League of Ireland (1926–2026). Designed by Killian Walsh and Sean Cotter, the one-off kit pays tribute to a century of history with a refined retro aesthetic.
The shirt arrives in a clean long-sleeve cut, featuring a white base detailed with subtle dark pinstripes and finished with a classic black polo collar and matching cuffs. A standout feature is the bespoke centenary crest on the left chest, which draws inspiration from historical club emblems with a modern take on Dundalk's traditional martlet birds. To maintain the vintage look, the Macron Hero and sponsor branding appear in tonal and subtle treatments across the chest.
The Dundalk FC Centenary shirt is available in limited quantities through the club's official online store and at the Oriel Park club shop in both adult and kids' sizes.
OFI Crete 26-27 Home Kit Released
Greek Super League side OFI Crete and Puma have officially unveiled the club's new home kit for the 2026-27 season. Completing the club's full wardrobe for the campaign following the earlier releases of their away, third, and fourth strips, the new design delivers a bold and classic look.
The Puma OFI Crete 26-27 home shirt is predominantly black, highlighted by a prominent white chevron across the upper chest. The sharp V-shaped graphic is framed with subtle grey bordering. Sitting cleanly within the white block are a black Puma cat logo on the right side and the club's circular crest on the left, which is topped with two commemorative stars.
White Betsson sponsor lettering runs across the front directly beneath the chevron. The kit is built on Puma dryCELL moisture-wicking technology and is complemented by matching black shorts and socks to round off the on-pitch look.
Juventus Announce Yokohama Tyres Partnership
Juventus and Japanese tyre manufacturer Yokohama Tyres have officially agreed on a new multi-year partnership, with Yokohama becoming an Official Partner of the Bianconeri. The deal forms a key part of the Japanese company's broader strategy to accelerate its brand awareness and expansion across Europe.
As part of the agreement, Yokohama will receive prominent exposure at the Allianz Stadium during Juventus home matches, including pitch-side LED screen advertising, in-stadium branding, and hospitality access. The partnership will also encompass integrated digital activations and fan engagement initiatives across Juventus' global social media ecosystem.
Football kit enthusiasts will best remember Yokohama Tyres as Chelsea's primary front-of-shirt sponsor from 2015 to 2020 (15-20). While the new agreement with Juventus is an official club partnership rather than a kit sponsorship, it marks a significant return for the brand into elite European football.
Cape Town City 26-27 Home Kit Draws Striking Boca Juniors Comparisons
South African club Cape Town City and Umbro have officially unveiled their new home kit for the 26-27 season to mark ten years of club heritage. Shortly after the launch, shirt enthusiasts quickly pointed out the undeniable resemblance to another high-profile release from earlier this month: Boca Juniors' 26-27 home kit.
Both jerseys rely on the exact same core aesthetic, combining a rich blue base with a prominent, wide yellow horizontal band across the chest. While Adidas crafted Boca's traditional look with yellow three stripes on the shoulders and a classic collar, Umbro opted for distinct yellow shoulder paneling and collar trims for Cape Town City. Both shirts also feature dark blue central sponsor branding running right across the yellow chest stripe.
While blue and yellow are integral to Cape Town City's visual identity, adopting the iconic chest band format gives the South African side an uncanny resemblance to the Argentine giants. Intentional homage or pure coincidence, the design delivers a bold and memorable aesthetic for the upcoming campaign.
Cape Town City 26-27 Home Kit Released
South African Premier Soccer League side Cape Town City FC have officially unveiled their new home kit for the 2026-27 season. Manufactured by Umbro, the strip marks a milestone moment for the club under the campaign tagline "Built on ten years of heritage. Still unmistakably City."
The Umbro Cape Town City 26-27 home shirt features the club's signature royal blue base complemented by a bold yellow chest band, evoking a classic football aesthetic. Yellow detailing also frames the collar and neckline inserts, while subtle textural striping runs horizontally across the body. The Umbro logo, club crest, and main sponsor SportPesa are integrated cleanly across the chest in matching yellow and blue tones.
Matching blue shorts and socks are expected to complete the full 2026-27 home look for the Citizens.
Adidas Unveils All Major 26-27 Club Home Kits in Epic Group Shot
Adidas has officially kicked off the new campaign by uniting its global roster of partner clubs in a massive group photo celebrating their 26-27 home kits. Shared across the brand's social channels with the tagline "we are so back – new season, new chaos, same love for the game," the promotional shoot gathers standout players from European heavyweights and top American clubs against a bold pink studio backdrop.
The star-studded visual highlights key brand ambassadors including Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Declan Rice (Arsenal), and Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) seated at the front alongside Bayern Munich. They are joined by players representing Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus, and Newcastle United, as well as European and South American powerhouses such as AS Roma, Aston Villa, Ajax, Benfica, Lyon, Fenerbahce, Flamengo, Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Club América.
Featuring a mix of traditional colorways, bespoke patterns, and the brand's latest 2026-27 design templates, the united showcase underlines the German sportswear giant's extensive elite portfolio heading into the new season. All of the 26-27 home jerseys featured in the campaign are now rolling out through official Adidas channels and club retail stores worldwide.











