Chelsea’s ‘rubbish’ new 2025/26 pre-match kit 'leaked' amid fan backlash

Chelsea seem set to continue the trend for clubs releasing ‘pre-match’ kits to be worn in favour of tracksuits during pre-match warm-ups – and the design for the 2025/26 shirt, which appears to have been leaked, seems set to be somewhat divisive.

Footy Headlines claim to have obtained photographs of the new shirt, which will be worn by the players as they get ready ahead of Premier League matches next season – but the immediate response to Nike’s new design hasn’t been entirely positive.

Chelsea’s new 2025/26 pre-match kit leaked ahead of release

The new kit, which can be seen up close in the social media post above, is ultimately plan white bar for a blue badge, manufacturer’s logo and front of shirt sponsor (something of a novelty for Chelsea, these days) – but its most noticeable feature makes it all rather more complicated than that.

The words ‘Chelsea’ and ‘London’ are printed in grey right across the front and sleeves in small lettering, broken up by larger stylised letters which spell out ‘CFC London’ in a repeated pattern.

Like recent leaked pre-match shirts to be worn by clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United, it’s an undeniably unique design – but in Chelsea’s case, it’s one which hasn’t been met with universal praise. The first social media response to the kit leak simply described the new shirt as “rubbish” and there has yet to be any positive feedback, although no doubt the unusual design will have its fans as well as its detractors.

Summer release likely for new Chelsea kits

Chelsea aren’t new to the ‘pre-match kit’ concept, and their players have spent the current season getting ready for games in a dark blue shirt with a mottled, spotted pattern, modelled in the image above by Enzo Fernández. Unlike some teams, Chelsea don’t seem to be planning on releasing their kits for next season early, or on having them be worn for a couple of matches before the end of the season in order to drum up interest.

Footy Headlines believe that the new kits will be officially unveiled and released during the summer. As it stands, there are also no indications that Chelsea plan to release special edition kits for the Club World Cup, as Manchester City plan to do ahead of this summer’s tournament in the United States.

You can also see details of Chelsea’s ‘leaked’ home, away and third kits by clicking here, although as with the pre-match kits the details are yet to be confirmed.

Chelsea fans will, in any case, likely be more concerned with their side’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League, which are very much in doubt despite a positive start to life under new head coach Enzo Maresca.

As it stands, Chelsea are one place and two points outside of the top five, and would only qualify to compete in next season’s Europa League if the season were to end now. Crucial matches against champions elect Liverpool and top five rivals Newcastle United could decide whether the new jerseys are worn in Europe’s biggest competition or not over the course of the next campaign.