Bayern Munich & Adidas CEOs Talk About Kits & Address Design Controversies
Feb 7, 2026, by Chris
- Partnership: The CEOs of Bayern Munich and Adidas emphasized the 60-year partnership between the club and the sportswear brand as fundamental to both parties.
- Kit Design Philosophy: There is a constant balancing act between honoring tradition and introducing modern, innovative elements that will also drive shirt sales.
- Market Dynamics: Controversial kit designs often lead to higher sales, as younger fans seek out attention-grabbing items, and the next Bayern kit will be more traditional.
Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and Adidas CEO Björn Gulden have provided a remarkably candid insight into the philosophy behind the club's often-debated kit designs at the SPOBIS sports business event, while simultaneously announcing a clear return to traditional values for next season. Huge thanks to FCB Inside for nicely covering the topic.
Bayern Munich Promise Return to Classic Designs After Adidas CEO and Club Chief Address Kit Controversy
Dreesen emphasized the deep historical connection between Bayern and Adidas, stating that the 60-year partnership is fundamental to both parties, and that he cannot imagine the Bayern shirt without the three stripes. He acknowledged the emotional significance of the club's colors and their composition, describing the jersey as representing identity, homeland, success, and recognition.
However, Dreesen also openly addressed the inherent conflict in every new kit release, explaining that from a designer's perspective, innovation is necessary each year, especially when multiple jerseys are produced per season. The central challenge, he noted, is finding the balance between honoring tradition - what fans see as identity-defining elements like the classic red color scheme) - and introducing fresh modern touches. He didn't shy away from the commercial reality, stating plainly that "we also want to sell shirts," and that producing identical kits year after year wouldn't be viable for either Adidas or Bayern.
Bayern München 26-27 Home Kit
The Adidas Bayern Munich 26-27 home football shirt keeps the club’s traditional red base with slightly darker tonal pinstripes running down the shirt. This effect adds depth and texture without straying from Bayern’s instantly recognizable identity.
Bayern München 26-27 Home Kit Leaked
The Bayern 27-28 home kit will feature an accent color nobody expected
Adidas CEO Gulden went further by revealing a counterintuitive market dynamic: the more criticism a kit receives, particularly second or third jerseys, the better it tends to sell. He cited Germany's controversial pink Euro 2024 kit as a prime example, calling it "a disaster" that they had to reorder "a hundred times" due to overwhelming demand. Gulden explained that while the hardcore fan base may initially reject bold new designs, the broader fan community actively seeks out these eye-catching pieces, making attention itself a crucial market factor.
Dreesen also highlighted the generational shift in consumer behavior, noting that younger fans specifically want new colors and designs that draw attention, viewing kits not just as fan apparel but as fashion statements. This demographic approaches clothing differently than previous generations, requiring both club and supplier to adapt their strategies accordingly.
Despite the willingness to experiment, Gulden assured traditionalists with a simple design formula: "You need two classic and one risky." Most significantly, he confirmed that "next year Bayern will be very classic" - we already know the final look of the kit, and he is totally right.
Check out all Bayern München kits on Football Kit Archive
Bayern 2026-2027 Home, Away, Third & Fourth Kits
The Bayern Munich 2026-27 home kit stays true to the club's traditions with a classic design in the iconic red that has defined the Bavarian giants for decades. While exact details are difficult to discern from the pixelated leak, the kit maintains Bayern's reputation for clean, timeless home designs.
Bayern München 26-27 Home, Away, Third, Fourth & Oktoberfest Kits Leaked
Footy Headlines also already knows that the Bayern 27-28 home kit will be more experimental again, with an accent color nobody expected.
Premier League Match Ball Spotted in German 9th Tier for Niklas Süle Debut
Former Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Germany defender Niklas Süle recently made headlines by stepping onto the pitch for German amateur side SV Tiefenbach in the Kreisliga. Having stepped away from the professional game at the end of the 25-26 season, the 30-year-old made his debut for the local ninth-tier club in Baden-Württemberg alongside close friends. While Süle managed to score a headed goal in a 7-2 defeat against SG Kirchardt, we quickly spotted an unexpected detail: the match was played with the official Nike Premier League 24-25 Third ball.
Seeing a Premier League match ball in the lower divisions of German regional football is an unusual and amusing sight, as amateur clubs across the country usually rely on non-league or, also, Bundesliga balls.
The distinctive Nike Flight Premier League design inspired by the Total 90 design, complete with its signature aerodynamic groove pattern and Premier League graphics, stood out prominently on the district league pitch.
New Hull City Signing Brings Back Memories of Iconic Vennegoor of Hesselink Number 29 Kit Font Arc
Following Hull City's signing of French midfielder Lucas Gourna-Douath, kit enthusiasts and football fans quickly noticed a similarity to one of the most iconic shirt prints in Premier League history. Gourna-Douath was unveiled holding his new black and amber striped 26-27 home kit featuring his hyphenated surname curved in a deep horseshoe arc around the number 29.
The visual immediately drew viral comparisons to Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who famously wore the exact same squad number 29 for Hull City during the 2009-10 campaign. Vennegoor of Hesselink's 20-letter surname required an extreme rainbow arch on the back of his kit to fit around the Premier League typeface, creating an enduring aesthetic memory from the classic Barclays era.
The Hull City kit does not require a box at the back, unlike it might have been in the UEFA Champions League.
Djed Spence to Wear Number 99 at Inter Milan
Following his permanent transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Inter Milan, English wing-back Djed Spence has officially chosen the number 99 shirt for the 26-27 campaign. The 26-year-old completed his move to the Nerazzurri in a deal worth approximately €30 million, signing a five-year contract that keeps him at the club until June 2031.
High squad numbers remain a classic hallmark of Serie A, and Spence's selection of number 99 sees him continue that tradition in Milan.
Bayern München 26-27 Third Kit Spotted in Store
The upcoming Adidas FC Bayern München 2026-27 third kit has been spotted on display in an Adidas retail store ahead of its official release.
Boca Juniors 26-27 Away Kit: Full Look Leaked
@KamilBerberler provides us with a full look at the Boca Juniors 26-27 away kit. It pays homage to the club's classic 2006-07 away strip. We can leak three new product images of the shirt.
