The online authority for all things rumored in the land of football shirts and shoes and other such kit, Footy Headlines are the ones breaking this Chelsea shirt leak as well.
New picture LEAKED: Adidas Chelsea 2016-17 Kit: https://t.co/6LklsjBq2r
— Footy Headlines (@Footy_Headlines) April 20, 2016
It's been a rather quiet season for shirt rumors, especially compared to last year's double bonanza of a major redesign and a brand new sponsor as well. This year's is a bit more of a minor iteration, with the design following a common adidas template and the details sticking to the basics unlike last year's meanderings with overly complicated necklines, plackets, and sleeve-ends.
Chelsea's home kit what a surprise design! pic.twitter.com/Vr42jZon9b
— ÿøęł (@novus_discipula) April 20, 2016
As it turns out, there's nothing really new in this update; we've seen all the main features of the shirt before. The stripes are running down the sides instead of the shoulders, which is a bit weird -- this is the new adidas Condivo template that will be used by several other club and national teams next season and at Euro 2016 -- while the body of the shirt features an all-over print of lions, which is fairly cool. Chelsea badge, check. Adidas logo, check. No more "TYRES"! Check. The collar is a v-neck as seen before, but now it's apparently going to be white rather than the previously rumored blue.
Other than that minor change, the leaked design has held steady since December, so it's probably safe to say this is what the real shirt will look like once its unveiled in May (May 4th, to be exact, according to Footy Headlines) and worn, as is tradition, in the final home match of the season on May 15th against Premier League champions elect Leicester City.
Other than the non-traditional placement of the adidas three stripes, I'm digging the simplicity of it all. Thoughts?