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Getting shirty
One of the most (oddly) highly-anticipated parts of the off-season is waiting to find out how your club will be dressed for the new campaign. No matter how much your dad hates the idea of a third kit, it's hard not to get excited about these new Premier League shirts heading into 2019/20.
New threads mean the new season is almost here – and here's what has been released into the wild so far...
Aston Villa Home
Brand – Kappa
Always a good idea to reveal your new home threads alongside a new arrival – so full marks to Villa, who did so for the permanent acquisition of Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings.
The West Midlands side are repped by Kappa this season after a stint with British menswear brand Luke, whose 2018/19 offering was always going to be tough to beat. And so it has proved: Villa's new jersey is dominated by an ugly sponsor and looks more Burnley than brilliant, but it's clean enough for their big top-flight return.
Bournemouth Home
Brand – Umbro
Eddie Howe is a man who – since his brief foray into the then-very-fashionable-actually curtains hairdo in the 1990s – has never had anything but a short back and sides. There are soldiers who look like hippies compared to him.
But hey, he looks good. And Umbro's Bournemouth kits may look more or less the same every year, but it's always one of the nicest in the league.
Burnley Home
Brand - Umbro
Burnley’s decision to team up with Umbro for the first time since 1980/81 for their new kit has produced a very smart effort.
The round collar has been ditched for a polo and the sleeves have the traditional ‘vest’ look - although the new betting sponsor (yawn) is too much.
Chelsea Home
Brand - Nike
Nike’s new design for this season is bound to split opinion among the Blues faithful, given that the all-over design looks a bit like Keith Haring has been let loose with a sharpie on a plain blue shirt.
In fact, it’s Stamford Bridge – the inspiration behind this bold look with beams, supports and architecture used to create this unique effect.
Chelsea Away
Brand – Nike
A Mod look for the Blues on their travels this season, featuring a gorgeous button-down collar celebrating a time when music and fashion dominated the King's Road near Stamford Bridge.
Full marks to Nike on this one – a clean, white-bodied number with lovely trim all over. Frank Lampard's lot will look ace away from Stamford Bridge.
Everton Home
Brand - Umbro
This striking kit was inspired by the distinctive zig-zagging steelwork from the upper tier of Goodison Park’s Bullens Road stand (well, so the press release proudly states anyway).
The theme produces some nice detail on the sleeves as well, while a logo has been added to the neck that's similar to the one used between 1991 and 1993.
Liverpool Home
Brand - New Balance
Producing a new shirt which seems to evolve and improve every year is rare, but New Balance seem to have done it again here; Liverpool's 2019/20 kit ditches the collar and brings back the yellow trim of two seasons ago.
It’s clean, elegant and the goalkeeper kit is just downright sexy. Or maybe that's just Alisson...
Manchester City Away
Brand - Puma
The year: 1989. The scene: Manchester's Hacienda nightclub.
808 State are playing. The bar is serving nothing but water. The person next to you is wearing City's 2019/20 away shirt. You don't bat an eyelid.
Paying homage to the city’s ‘Madchester’ era of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, when music and culture was exploding in the area, this shirt sports yellow stripes on the shoulder and peach trim on a black body – a bold effort fit for Pep Guardiola’s sweet music.
Manchester United Home
Brand - Adidas
Adidas have played it safe with the design of United's 1999 Treble-winning season tribute kit, after fielding fierce criticism for their red-to-black fade effort last term.
The main difference? The badge has been updated and the numbers '90+1' and '90+3' feature on the sleeves – in reference to the minutes their famous comeback goals were scored against Barcelona (you may have heard about that).
Manchester United Away
Brand - Adidas
"You are gold," go the lyrics to Spandau Ballet's 1983 hit Gold. "Always believe in your soul / You've got the power to know / You're indestrucible".
This piece of pop-psychology seems to sum up Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's entire managerial philosophy at Manchester United, and so it's fitting that this is what is offered up as the Reds' away kit this year. A nice little nod to the colour medals Ole used to win as a player, too.
Newcastle United Home
Brand - Puma
DespiteThe only lamenting the lack of stripes on this shirt, the FFT office's resident Geordie conceded they quite liked this. The Magpies’ new home shirt is inspired by the club’s 1969 kit – it's the 50th anniversary of their Fairs Cup success – and features a central black stripe, tonal club badge in the centre, and round neck collar with white trim.
It’s just a shame about that sponsor.
Norwich City Home
Brand - Errea
The Canaries are back with a bang – their new home strip features an eye-catching green-to-yellow fade from the shorts on the front and back of the jersey – an improvement on last season's efforts from Manchester United and Tottenham.
As with many junior Premier League kits, betting sponsor Dafabet will be replaced by a child-friendly version - a trampoline park, in this case - on all kids' home shirts.
Sheffield United Home
Brand - Adidas
Stoke? Sunderland? Brentford? Not quite. The Blades’ new home kit for their first Premier League campaign in 12 years – featuring wider stripes and a rounded white collar – has split opinion.
Classic or unimaginative? You be the judge. Kids kits will feature energy company Utilita – a prominent backer of grassroots football – as the sponsor instead of Forex broker USG. A nice touch.
Southampton Home
Brand - Under Armour
Some kit makers like to avoid risks – but not Under Armour. The American sportswear giant has charged in with a Southampton home kit that looks like it's been dipped in tar.
The collar has been stripped back to a simple round neck, with a solitary button completing the look. We’re not sure if we’re fans, but it’s good to see someone willing to think outside the box.
Tottenham Home & Away
Brand – Nike
It's hard to get overly excited about Spurs' new home effort – a minimal, clean and white shirt which is distinctly 'fine'. Smart, but unspectacular.
Their away jersey is much more interesting. If the deep body colour isn't getting you, then look closely at the zig-zig pattern and note that each line is made up of the word 'Spurs'. We approve.
Wolves Home
Brand - Adidas
It's not as nice as last season's, no. But that was great.
Wolves are back in Europe for the first time in 38 years this season – and their new kit is fit to take them there. It has a similar template to Sheffield United's away shirt: a thin collar, subtle dark orange trim, and an overall colour that's certainly a bitt more Wolves-looking than last year.
