Adidas to Expand the Elite Category From 2026-27 Season
Jun 23, 2025, by Phan Tich Giay
- Elite Team Expansion: Adidas is expanding its 'Elite Team' sponsorship tier from the 2026-27 season, with Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe confirmed to be promoted.
- Benefits of Elite Status: Becoming an 'Elite Team' grants clubs access to authentic kits, Adidas Trefoil logo apparel, and broader apparel collections.
- Potential Further Expansion: Celtic and Benfica are also strong candidates to join the elite tier, as Adidas seeks to broaden its portfolio of top-level clubs.
Adidas is set to significantly expand its top tier of sponsored clubs, with Turkish giants Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe confirmed to be promoted to "Elite Team" status starting from the 2026-27 season. Thanks to Opaleak for the heads-up.
Besiktas & Fenerbahce to Become Adidas Elite Team From 2026-27 Season
The promotion of Beşiktaş to the elite category was officially confirmed by board member Toygun Batallı, who stated:
"This year, as a result of our intense efforts and discussions with Adidas, we have had Beşiktaş included in the elite category. We are on an equal footing with clubs like Real Madrid, Juventus, and Ajax."
Becoming an Adidas Elite team comes with significant benefits, elevating the clubs to the same level as the current top 10, which includes Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Juventus. For Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe, this means:
- Authentic Kits: From the 2026-27 season, they will receive authentic player-issue jerseys featuring Adidas's new Climacool+ technology.
- Adidas Originals / Trefoil Logo: They will now be eligible to receive special third kits or lifestyle collections featuring the iconic Adidas Trefoil logo, a privilege reserved for elite teams in recent seasons.
- Broader Collections: The clubs will receive more extensive and bespoke training and lifestyle apparel ranges.
Further Expansion: Celtic & Benfica Also Candidates
Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe are not the only clubs expected to be promoted. As previously reported by Footy Headlines, Celtic and Benfica are also strong candidates to join the elite tier from the 2026-27 season as Adidas looks to broaden its portfolio of top-level clubs.
What do you think of Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe becoming Adidas Elite teams? Which other clubs do you think deserve to be promoted to the top tier? Let us know in the comments below.
Real Madrid 26-27 New Shirt Number Owners
Real Madrid have officially confirmed their squad numbers for the 2026-27 season. Thanks to @jersey_story for the design visuals.
Raúl Asencio steps into the No. 2 shirt previously worn by Dani Carvajal, while new signing Dean Huijsen takes over No. 4 from David Alaba. Endrick also returns to the No. 9 after his loan spell at Marseille.
Among the new arrivals, Ibrahima Konaté will wear No. 16, Marc Cucurella No. 17, Carlos Espí No. 19, Denzel Dumfries No. 24 and Yan Diomande No. 25. Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva will continue wearing No. 20 following Fran García's departure. The number is closely associated with the Portuguese midfielder's most successful years at Manchester City.
Which new number catches your eye the most? Let us know your answer in the comments below.
Paris Saint-Germain Debut 26-27 Kits Featuring Two Stars
PSG debuted a two-star version of their 26-27 kits during recent friendly matches, commemorating their pair of UEFA Champions League titles. This special detail will be used exclusively in international competitions.
Despite Ligue 1 placing no restriction on star crests, PSG announced they will not feature the stars on their domestic league kits. Special thanks to @jerseystory_vn for the spot and graphic.
No More Nike: Adidas Croatia 2026 Training Kits Revealed
Following their switch from Nike to Adidas, Croatia's new training kit set for 2026 have been unveiled in the latest training camp for youth teams' goalkeepers.
However from what we've seen, both of the new jerseys are simply from Adidas Tiro 26 League template range, using default black and grey color choices. These are very likely just temporary options for the mean time, until the actual designs with probably bespoke colorways are officially released.
What do you think of the new Adidas Croatia 2026 training kits? Let us know in the comments below.
