Will Fourth Kits Become the New Normal?
- 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?
