Manchester United Wears Grey Shorts With Away Kit vs Athletic Bilbao in Europa League

May 2, 2025

by PTG

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Kit Variation Debut: Manchester United wore a never-before-seen grey shorts and socks combination with their away kit against Athletic Bilbao.
Standard Away Kit: The standard 2024-25 away kit is deep blue with matching navy shorts and socks.
Reason for Change: The switch to grey shorts was made to avoid a color clash with Athletic Bilbao's black shorts.

Manchester United debuted a new variation of their 2024-25 away kit during the UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg against Athletic Club at San Mames, opting for an alternative shorts and socks combo that had yet to be seen together this season.

Manchester United Wears Grey Shorts With Away Kit vs Athletic Bilbao in Europa League

The Manchester United 25-26 away kit - a deep blue “Midnight Navy” design with white and silver detailing – is typically paired with matching navy shorts and socks. However, for this high-stakes clash in Bilbao, United switched to grey shorts and socks, officially labelled "Clear Onyx," creating a distinct two-tone look.

According to the club, the change was made to avoid a shorts clash with Athletic Club, who traditionally wear black bottoms with their red-and-white striped home shirts. The decision to go with lighter-colored shorts followed United’s recent kit protocol, which prefers visual contrast between teams, especially in lower lighting or broadcast environments.