Long Sleeves Have Never Been More Back
- Long-sleeved kits revival: After years of decline, long-sleeved football kits are making a comeback, seen across various leagues and international matches.
- Aesthetic and retro appeal: Long-sleeved shirts offer a more complete silhouette and allow design elements to flow better, aligning with the current retro trend inspired by the 90s and early 2000s.
- Increased availability and demand: Retail availability of long-sleeve shirts has improved, but demand is exceeding expectations, leading to sold-out options and anticipation for wider availability in the future.
After years of disappearing from football pitches across Europe, the traditional long-sleeved kit is experiencing a genuine revival, and the evidence is everywhere you look. Huge thanks to kit aficionado Phil Delves, Footy Headlines writer, as part of our partnership with Cult Kits, reseller of vintage football shirts, for the idea for this article, and also the headline: “Long Sleeves Have Never Been More Back".
A Trend That Can't Be Ignored
Scroll through any matchday gallery from recent weeks and the pattern is unmistakable. From the Bundesliga to the Premier League, from international fixtures to La Liga, players are increasingly ditching the base layer look in favor of proper long-sleeved jerseys.
Just five years ago, only a handful top stars got long-sleeve kits from their suppliers
Just ten years ago, there were hardly any players left wearing long-sleeve kits. Five years later, in 2020, half a dozen top players wore long-sleeve kits. Today, there are hundreds of top players wearing long-sleeve kits again.
The German national team has become something of a poster child for the movement. Adidas' retro-inspired home kit was worn with long sleeves by various players, including Woltemade, Wirtz, Sane, Gnabry, and Goretzka. The big three stripes are running down the entire arm (would have been better with the smaller 3 stripes for us, ayk).
Why It Works
There's something undeniably elegant about a long-sleeved football shirt. The silhouette is more complete. The design elements have more room to breathe. Stripe patterns that start at the shoulder can flow all the way to the wrist, creating visual continuity that gets lost with short sleeves or undershirts.
And while some years ago only a handful top stars got long-sleeve kits from their suppliers, now players across all major first divisions have been spotted embracing the look.
The timing makes sense. We're deep in the retro cycle, with kits increasingly drawing inspiration from the 90s and early 2000s. And what defined those eras? Long sleeves worn by everyone from Zidane to Ronaldo Nazário, from Beckham to Del Piero.
Brands Are Catching Up
With players clearly gravitating toward long sleeves, retail availability of long-sleeve shirts has also become much better. However, those long sleeves are apparently more popular than brands thought they would - Newcastle's long-sleeve options are virtually sold out, for example.
Those long sleeves are apparently more popular than brands thought they would
If this trend continues - and all signs suggest it will - expect kit manufacturers to further respond. Long-sleeve authentic match kits should be available for more teams in future seasons, and smaller teams should also get long-sleeve kits.
Whether this is a fleeting moment or the beginning of a permanent shift remains to be seen. But for now, long-sleeve enthusiasts can celebrate: their preferred look has well and truly returned to the mainstream.
What do you think - do you prefer long-sleeve kits or short sleeves? Let us know in the comments below!
Vintage Football Shirts
from Cult Kits
1998 Les Bleus Home Shirt 'France' (Multiple Sizes) Dreamers
2012/13 Spain I.Casillas #1 GK Shirt (L) Adidas
2014/15 USA Altidore #17 Home Shirt (S) Nike
2015/16 Kilmarnock Tracksuit Jumper (XXS) Errea
1979 ICONIC BOOT – TOTE BAG
2003/04 Juventus Davids #26 L/S Home Shirt (M) Nike
2010/11 Real Zaragoza Paredes #3 *Player Issue* L/S Away Shirt (M) Adidas
2002 FC Tokyo Away Shirt (S) Adidas
1992/94 Sweden Home Shirt (XL) Adidas
2013/14 Argentina Messi #10 Home Shirt (L) Adidas
Aston Villa 26-27 Retro Jersey Leaked
Aston Villa x adidas Originals will release a special long-sleeve retro jersey. Apparel tracker Kamil Berberler shared the design, recreated with FIFA Kit Creator.
The Adidas Villa Originals jersey draws on Aston Villa's heritage with claret and blue colorways alongside classic details. It is mainly claret, with sky blue sleeves, plus yellow trim.
The Aston Villa 26-27 Retro Jersey comes with a retro Villans text on the left sleeve.
Liverpool Debut New 2026-27 Home Kit Against Brentford
Liverpool's men's team debuted their new 2026-27 home kit during their Premier League match against Brentford at Anfield on May 24, 2026. The fixture served as the final game of the 2025-26 season, with the players wearing the Adidas strip for the first time in competitive action.
The kit is primarily Active Maroon with white accents and incorporates a geometric pattern inspired by the club's iconic 1989-91 home shirts. It is paired with matching maroon shorts and socks.
https://www.footyheadlines.com/2025/09/liverpool-26-27-home-kit.html
Fans Bring Out Chairs to Honor David Alaba in Emotional Bernabéu Farewell
Real Madrid defender David Alaba was given an emotional send-off by fans at the Santiago Bernabéu during his final home match for the club. Supporters held up plastic chairs as he was substituted, recreating the Austrian's signature celebration that first went viral in 2022 during Real Madrid's Champions League comeback victory against Paris Saint-Germain.
Alaba, aged 33, will leave the club at the end of the 2025-26 season when his contract expires. He has made more than 130 appearances for Real Madrid across five years and collected 11 major trophies, including two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.
The chair tribute stems from Alaba spontaneously grabbing and waving a stadium seat in wild celebration during that memorable 2022 night at the Bernabéu, turning the gesture into one of his most recognizable moments with the club.
Sagan Tosu 2026-27 Home and Away Kits Released
Sagan Tosu have announced their kits for the 2026-27 season. Manufactured by New Balance, the new uniforms were officially unveiled by the club on May 23, 2026.
The home kit takes inspiration from sand and spray, tying into the meaning of the club name Sagan and symbolizing how individual elements unite into something stronger. The away kit features a feather-inspired camouflage pattern drawn from the magpie, the team's emblem.
Shibuya City FC 2026 Away Jersey Released
Shibuya City FC, a club in Japan's Kantō Soccer League Division 1, recently released its 2026 away jersey made by Mizuno. The club changed suppliers ahead of the season after previously working with New Era on earlier kits.
The design uses an Urban Blue base color drawn from Shibuya's buildings, concrete and glass. It includes an all-over pattern inspired by the famous scramble crossing, night lights and the district's energy.
New Mexico United 2026 Third Kit Released
New Mexico United have revealed their third kit for the 2026 season. Known as the Vintage Kit and manufactured by Puma, the shirt features a bright turquoise base, a bold foldover collar and a black chest band with the Visit Taos sponsor.
The kit debuted on the pitch during the May 23 home match against Charleston Battery and is now available in unisex, women's and youth sizes through the official team store and website.
MLS Players Wear Special World Cup Flag Jerseys This Weekend
Major League Soccer players are featuring special World Cup-inspired designs on their jerseys during matches on May 23 and 24. The numbers on the backs incorporate the flags of all 48 nations competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set within black or white outlines depending on the base jersey color.
Each player will also wear a flag patch on the front of the jersey representing their declared nationality or citizenship. The customized kits form part of a Send-Off weekend ahead of the MLS break, with the special editions set for a league-wide auction afterward. The World Cup begins on June 11, and the 2025 MLS regular season resumes on July 16.
Celtic 26-27 Retro Jersey Leaked
A long-sleeve jersey from the adidas Originals Collection for Celtic will be launched for the 2026-2027 season. The design follows the streamlined Adidas OG retro template in dark green and incorporates the Celtic Lisbon Lions anniversary crest.
Leak via Kamil Berberler [@KamilBerberler], created with FIFA Kit Creator.
