Will Fourth Kits Become the New Normal?
Feb 24, 2026, by Phan Tich Giay
- Fourth Kit Trend: The release of fourth kits is becoming increasingly common, extending beyond top-tier clubs to mid-tier and smaller teams.
- PSG's Influence: Paris Saint-Germain is leading the fourth kit movement, driven by their successful partnership with Jordan, and is even planning to release a fifth kit.
- Commercial Goals: Many clubs no longer find three kits sufficient to meet commercial demands and fan expectations, leading to the increasing popularity of fourth kits.
In recent seasons, the trend of releasing a fourth kit has become increasingly prevalent, spreading rapidly from top-tier powerhouses down to mid-tier and smaller clubs. It begs the question: are three kits simply "not enough" anymore, and is the release of a fourth kit becoming the new standard in football?
Will Fourth Kits Become the New Normal?
If we look back, having just a home and an away kit used to be the absolute rule.
As football kit culture grew and commercial demands increased, third kits, which were initially an experimental luxury reserved only for the biggest clubs in European competitions, eventually became a mandatory release for almost every team each season.
Now, the kit world is evolving once again, and the fourth kit trend is gaining serious momentum.
The Current Season Explosion
To put things into perspective, this season alone we have recorded at least 16 different fourth kits being officially released.
This strategy is no longer just an exclusive tactic for the global elite. While heavyweights like Barcelona, Manchester City, PSG, and Inter Milan have all dropped fourth shirts, we are simultaneously seeing smaller and mid-size clubs jumping on the bandwagon, with the likes of Porto, Venezia, and Birmingham City all providing their fans with a fourth option.
The PSG Trendsetters
The undisputed leader of this movement is Paris Saint-Germain. Releasing a fourth kit has practically been a standard operating procedure for the Parisian club since the 2019-20 season, a trend heavily driven by their incredibly successful, streetwear-focused partnership with Jordan.
In fact, the club isn't even stopping at four; PSG is currently preparing to release an unprecedented 5th kit before the current campaign ends.
Are There Too Many Kits?
Everything changes, and football merchandising is no exception. It seems that for many clubs, three kits are no longer sufficient to satisfy commercial goals and modern fan demand.
One year ago, we published an article asking the exact question: Are clubs releasing too many kits and special collections? Today, this surging fourth kit trend firmly reaffirms the perspectives we laid out back then.
Will the fourth kit become an absolute, undeniable "standard" for every club's seasonal release cycle in the coming years?
No More Puma: Brain Dead UD Ibiza 26-27 Away Kit Released
Spanish club UD Ibiza has officially released its new away kit for the 26-27 season, crafted by creative collective and technical sponsor Brain Dead. Following the takeover from Puma earlier this summer and the previous unveilings of their home and third shirts, this release completes the island club's match collection for the campaign.
The Brain Dead UD Ibiza 26-27 away jersey delivers a bold aesthetic inspired directly by the sargantana ibicenca (the Ibiza wall lizard), an enduring symbol of the island's natural identity. The kit channels the reptile's distinct scales into a contemporary camouflage pattern, blending blurred digital textures in shades of toxic green, moss, and deep black across the entire front, back, and sleeves.
Contrasting the chaotic camouflage base, all accents and club emblems are rendered in a striking electric yellow monochrome, including the UD Ibiza crest, Brain Dead's signature head profile logo, and sponsor branding. The design is finished with a neat black crew-neck collar, matching black sleeve cuffs tipped with white piping, and clean white stripes tracing down each flank.
Haaland Trains in Leaked Nike Phantom 26-27 Signature Boots
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been spotted wearing his upcoming Nike Phantom 6 signature boots in training with the Norwegian team, confirming the exclusive leak from Footy Headlines. Created for the 26-27 season, the custom pair provides the first look yet at the high-end edition of the Norwegian star's next official on-pitch release.
The new signature boots feature a light blue base. A standout cloud-like graphic wraps around the heel and rear portion of the boot, adding a unique personalized touch to the design. Built on the Phantom 6 framework, the cleats boast Nike's Gripknit material across the upper for optimal ball control alongside the Cyclone 360 soleplate for rotational traction.
Nike is set to launch the Erling Haaland 26-27 signature boots on October 1.
Adidas Argentina Messi Farewell Kit Leaked - 3 New Images
New images of the special commemorative Adidas Argentina kit created for Lionel Messi's final international appearance have been shared by the @TheShirtUnion. The legendary playmaker is scheduled to wear this tribute shirt in his farewell game for the national team against Benin at the Estadio Monumental on October 6, 2026.
Nigeria to Leave Nike and Return to Adidas in Record 2027 Kit Deal
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is set to part ways with Nike after an 11-year partnership and make a high-profile return to Adidas starting in January 2027. The switch will conclude an era with the Swoosh that began in 2015 and produced some of the most iconic and culturally celebrated football shirts of recent times, headlined by the viral 2018 World Cup collection.
The new agreement with Adidas is worth an estimated $8.5 million per year, making it the largest publicly disclosed kit deal in African football history. The contract breaks down into $4.5 million in cash alongside $4 million in kits, equipment, and apparel annually, accompanied by a 20% royalty on official merchandise sold in Nigeria. Nike's long-standing contract had remained static at around $1.5 million in total annual value, and the US brand ultimately declined to exercise its right to match Adidas' significantly enhanced proposal.
This marks a return to the Three Stripes for Nigeria for the first time since 2014. Adidas famously outfitted the Super Eagles during key eras of their history, including their World Cup debut in 1994 and their Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2013. In tandem with the team sponsorship, Adidas plans to expand its retail footprint across Nigeria to over 30 stores, ensuring vastly improved distribution and accessibility of official gear for supporters.
India 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and technical sponsor Nivia Sports have officially launched the new India 26-27 home, away, and third kits. The new collection will be worn in the high-profile series of international friendlies against Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay.
The India 26-27 home shirt features a vibrant light blue base combined with bright orange accents on the side panels, V-neck collar, and sleeve cuffs. Subtly woven into the fabric is a peacock feather jacquard pattern, complemented by patterned ethnic-inspired taping running down the shoulders and golden piping framing the front. In line with the rest of the collection, the AIFF crest is centrally aligned on the chest, with the Nivia logo situated just below.
Completing the range, the away jersey arrives in dark blue with clean white contrast piping along the collar, cuffs, and shoulder inserts for a classic aesthetic. The third kit switches to an energetic saffron orange look accented by rich blue side panels and sleeve trim, mirroring the shoulder pattern details from the primary strip.
Adidas Argentina Messi Farewell Player & Keeper Kit Leaked - Official Pictures
We can leak official images of the Adidas Argentina commemorative collection celebrating Lionel Messi ahead of his final international appearance for the Albiceleste. The centerpiece of the capsule is the bespoke home shirt, rounded out by a dark green goalkeeper edition and a radiant light blue pre-match shirt, crafted as a fitting tribute ahead of Messi's emotional farewell against Benin on October 6, 2026.
Inter Miami 2026-2027 Home Kit Leaked - Return of Long-Sleeve Kits in MLS
We can leak images of the Adidas Inter Miami 2026-2027 home kit in the authentic long-sleeve version. It is remarkable because Adidas has not made long-sleeve MLS kits available for almost a decade. While the images show a counterfeit, they match the information about a massive return of Adidas long-sleeve kits. More to follow very soon.