May 20 – As the English Premier League campaign draws to a close, clubs are beginning to pivot commercially towards next season – and that means it’s time to reveal next season’s on-pitch money makers.
Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea became the first clubs to unveil their 2025-26 home kits over the past week, offering fans, sponsors and stakeholders an early glimpse of the visual identity for the new campaign.
City were first out of the gate, releasing their Puma-designed kit on May 13. The shirt features a white diagonal sash – a first for a City home kit – a nod to historic away designs from the 1970s and beyond.
Arsenal unveiled their new look later in the week, opting for evolution over revolution. The new strip closely resembles this season’s version and was worn for the first time in their 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates on Sunday.
“I love our new kit, it looks fresh,” said Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly. “I’m excited to wear this in front of our incredible supporters next season. Their energy lifts us – when we step out in the shirt, we feel it more than ever.”
Chelsea followed on Saturday morning with a home kit launch tied to a promotional campaign featuring London-based rapper Central Cee. The release, however, came without a front-of-shirt sponsor, with the club’s short-term deal with DAMAC – a Dubai-based property group – due to expire at the end of this season.
Chelsea are actively searching for a new principal sponsor as they look to maximise commercial opportunities ahead of the new season.
Meanwhile, a separate leak of Chelsea’s 2025-26 kit briefly appeared on Nike’s social media platforms earlier last week before being swiftly removed.
With just one gameweek remaining in the current campaign, more clubs are expected to unveil next season’s kits in the coming days as attention increasingly shifts to commercial strategy and global branding for the new season.
The last matchday of the campaign usually has half the teams playing in a completely different kit to the one they started the season wearing.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1747748032labto1747748032ofdlr1747748032owedi1747748032sni@g1747748032niwe.1747748032yrrah1747748032