Has Adidas Run Out of Kit Ideas for Arsenal & Manchester United?
Jul 23, 2025, by Phan Tich Giay
- Recurring Retro Designs: Adidas is increasingly relying on retro-inspired football kits, specifically revisiting iconic patterns from the 1990s for top clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United.
- Arsenal's 'Blue Lightning' Pattern: Adidas is set to release a new Arsenal 2025-26 away kit that draws inspiration from the 'Blue Lightning' graphic, marking the fourth time this pattern has been used or reimagined for an Arsenal kit.
- Manchester United's 'Snowflake' Pattern: Manchester United's iconic 1990-92 'snowflake' away kit design has been a recurring source of inspiration for Adidas, which has used the pattern as the basis for the club's away kit for two consecutive seasons.
Retro-inspired football kits are more popular than ever, but a question is beginning to emerge: are brands, particularly Adidas, relying too heavily on past glories instead of creating new iconic designs for their top clubs?
Have Adidas Run Out of Kit Ideas?
Recent kit releases for Arsenal and Manchester United show a clear trend of revisiting the same iconic patterns from the 1990s time and time again.
With the release of the new Arsenal 2025-26 away kit, Adidas has once again drawn inspiration from the famous "Blue Lightning" graphic. This marks the fourth time this specific pattern has been used or reimagined for an Arsenal kit.
- 1994-95: The original, iconic Nike away kit.
- 1995-96: An altered version of the same Nike design.
- 2021-22: The third kit, which was a modern interpretation of the pattern.
- 2025-26: The new away kit, which again uses a modernized version of the lightning bolt graphic.
While popular, revisiting the same signature pattern four times raises questions about originality for a club as big as Arsenal.
Manchester United's "Snowflake" Pattern
A similar trend can be seen with Manchester United and their iconic 1990-92 "snowflake" away kit. This design has been a recurring source of inspiration for Adidas.
Most notably, Adidas has used this pattern as the basis for the club's away kit for two consecutive seasons. Both the 2024-25 blue polo away kit and the newly leaked 2025-26 white away kit feature a tonal "snowflake" jacquard print.
Nostalgia vs Innovation
There is no doubt that retro sells. Fans have a deep emotional connection to these past designs, and modern takes are often commercially successful.
However, the over-reliance on the same few patterns for the same clubs could be seen as a safe, rather than innovative, strategy. Will fans in 20 years' time look back fondly on a remake, or on a design that was genuinely new for its era?
What do you think? Is this a smart use of club heritage by Adidas, or a sign they are running out of fresh ideas? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Barcelona Use Two Different Fonts for 26-27 Home and Away Kits
Along with their new 26-27 home and away kits, Barcelona has launched two brand-new font styles to replace the iconic "Barcelona Play" typography, which had been in use since the 19-20 season. Interestingly, both new designs feature Serif fonts - a style never before seen on official Barça shirts.
For the home kit, the font features fine curves inspired by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, the visionary behind many of Barcelona's iconic landmarks.
For the away kit, the font takes on a cleaner, simpler serif shape in a gold tone that stands out against the kit's background color.
Barcelona will have a Kappa 1992-inspired font for the third kit, expected to be released soon.
Big thanks to @jerseystory_vn for the graphic.
Eastleigh 26-27 Home Kit Released
National League side Eastleigh have unveiled their new home kit, made by Errea and to be worn in the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.
The kitcelebrates the club's 80th anniversary, featuring a ‘EFC 1946’ pattern throughout the design. The return of the iconic white shoulders is another nod to our heritage, inspired by the look of some of the club’s first home shirts. Blue collar and sleeve cuffs with white trims complete the design.
What do you think of the Errea Eastleigh 2026-27 home kit? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Gaborone United 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
Botswana Premier League side Gaborone United has officially unveiled its new 26-27 home, away, and third kits. Made by ZoneTwo Sports Wear, the latest strips were recently launched in conjunction with the club's end-of-season awards ceremony.
The ZoneTwo Gaborone United 26-27 home kit features the traditional red primary color that the club is known for. For matches on the road, the team will transition to a clean white away kit. Rounding out the collection, the alternative third kit introduces a blue base to give the squad an additional contrasting option.
Manchester United 26-27 Away Kit Debuted + New Microsoft Back-of-Kit Sponsor
Yesterday, Manchester United debuted their new 2026-27 away kit in a pre-season friendly against Rosenborg. Featuring a blue and red color scheme, the design evokes memories of the club's iconic 2016-17 away shirt, marking a full decade of nostalgia for United supporters.
At the same time, Microsoft made its first appearance on Manchester United's kit as the new back-of-shirt sponsor, replacing Copilot. The change remains part of the club's broader commercial partnership with Snapdragon. The Microsoft logo is also expected to continue appearing on the back of the team's shirts in both the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
No More Jako: Adidas Chernihiv 26-27 Home Kit Released
Ukrainian First League club FC Chernihiv have announced a change in kit supplier ahead of the 26-27 season, leaving their previous partner Jako to join forces with Adidas. This marks a new era for the club, who had previously sported bespoke designs created by Jako.
The first release under the new partnership is the FC Chernihiv 26-27 home kit. Moving away from the striking yellow tiger stripe design seen in the 25-26 season, the new Adidas home shirt adopts a more traditional aesthetic, featuring the iconic three stripes prominently on the shoulders.
While the previous Jako kits gained attention for their unique looks and the poignant presentation near the club's destroyed ground, the switch to Adidas brings a classic and recognizable feel to FC Chernihiv's on-pitch apparel for the upcoming campaign.
Woking 26-27 Home Kit Released
English National League side Woking FC have officially unveiled their new 26-27 home kit, made by Italian technical partner Erreà. The launch was accompanied by a heartfelt club statement highlighting the deep-rooted significance of the team's traditional colors, stating, "For generations, these colours have held real significance. Whatever the future holds, we'll wear it together."
The Erreà Woking FC 26-27 home shirt embraces the club's historic visual identity, bringing a fresh but classic look for the Cardinals' upcoming campaign. Emphasizing heritage and unity, the new uniform celebrates the strong connection between the team and its loyal supporters.
Fakel Voronezh 26-27 Kits Released
Russian club FC Fakel Voronezh have officially unveiled their new kits for the 26-27 season. Made by Spanish sportswear brand Kelme, the new collection will be worn during the club's upcoming domestic campaign.
The new Kelme FC Fakel Voronezh 26-27 shirts introduce custom designs that incorporate the traditional colors of the team. Continuing the partnership from previous seasons, the latest release includes a complete set of matchday uniforms, providing a fresh but recognizable visual identity for the Russian side.