Man U’s Nod to the ’60s, Barça’s Purple Patch, and Other Recent European Club Soccer Unveilings

Two of Europe’s most successful clubs — Manchester United and FC Barcelona — headline the latest round of kit reveals from around Europe. We also make a few more stops in both England and Spain, as well as one in France …

MANCHESTER UNITED – Home

Premier League giants Manchester United give a subtle nod to squads of the 1960s in their 2021-22 home kits, made by adidas. The red jersey features tonal vertical stripes down the front, and off-white (or “cloud white,” as adidas calls it) accents such as sleeve cuffs, crew neck collar and shoulder stripes. This is the first Man Utd kit to feature new shirt sponsor TeamViewer.

The shirt will be worn with off-white shorts with red trim and black socks with white and red stripes and a gold devil from the club crest.

FC BARCELONA – Away

Opinions were certainly divided on the 2021-22 home kits that Spanish La Liga powerhouses FC Barcelona unveiled last month, and their away kits may be just as polarizing. They are solid light purple, with a red stripe down each side. The club crest has been given an iridescent, almost holographic treatment in pink and purple, while the Nike logo is a reflective white.

WOLVERHAMPTON – Home

After manufacturing kits for Newcastle United and Rangers FC, British sportswear company Castore adds to its Premier League portfolio with the release of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 2021-22 home kit. The base is Wolves’ signature shade of amber, with black accents around the collar and sleeve cuffs. Black panels trimmed with white piping adorn the sides of the jersey.

WEST HAM UNITED – Home

Manufacturer Umbro offers a little twist on Premier League side West Ham United’s traditional home kits for 2021-22. The claret body of the jersey remains intact, but instead of full sky blue sleeves, the club has opted this season for thick sky blue stripes trimmed in white running from the collar to the sleeve cuffs (similar to what Arsenal did in 2008-09). The cuffs themselves, along with the polo collar, are claret with white and blue trim.

LILLE OSC – Away

Defending French Ligue 1 champions are keeping things classy with their away kit for 2021-22, made by New Balance. The base of the jersey is white, with a tonal graphic visible on the bottom left corner. The sleeve cuffs are trimmed in black and gold, and the club crest is rendered in black and gold as well. The New Balance logo is gold while the sponsor logo is red.

STADE DE REIMS – Away

After going old school for their 2021-22 home kits, French Ligue 1 outfit Stade de Reims is going decidedly more modern for their away kits, made by Umbro. They feature a royal blue body and dark blue raglan sleeves with royal blue cuffs. The body also features a pattern made of crowns from the club crest. The crest, sponsor logos and manufacturer logo are set in gold. As with the home kit, the away kit features a small French flag at the base of the collar.

REAL BETIS – Home

Inspired by Real Betis’s crest, manufacturer Kappa has come up with a bold look for the club’s 2021-22 home kit. The top of the jersey is dominated by a green triangle, mimicking the crest’s shape and giving ample room for a sponsor logo. The bottom consists of green and white vertical stripes. The sleeves are sold green, with a white panel running under each arm, and a narrow white stripe on each cuff. The V-neck collar is green with two narrow white stripes.

RCD ESPANYOL – Home, Away & Third

RCD Espanyol are back in the Spanish La Liga in 2021-22, having won promotion from the Segunda División. They’ll return in style thanks to kits from manufacturer Kelme. The home kit features blue and white vertical stripes on the front and sleeves, with a tonal zigzag pattern covering the front of the jersey. The V-neck collar is half blue and half white.

Espanyol’s away kit is mainly red, with two white stripes and one blue stripe running at an angle across the chest. The sleeve cuffs are trimmed in blue and white, and a tonal red stripe runs through the center of the crew neck collar.

Espanyol’s third kit is predominantly navy blue. Royal blue diagonal blocks with a distressed pattern run vertically down the center of the shirt. Both the V-neck collar and the sleeve cuffs are half white and half royal blue.