Thick Accent Staff

Adidas Annoys Newcastle Fans With Elegant Stripes On 26/27 Juventus Home Kit

Adidas, Football Kits, Juventus, Newcastle United

Newcastle United’s black-and-white stripes are among the most recognisable in English football.

For supporters, the home shirt is more than just a new piece of merchandise each season. It represents the club’s identity, history and connection with Tyneside, which is why that traditional design matters. A Newcastle home shirt is more than just a new piece of merchandise each season.

Adidas know that history well. The German brand previously made some memorable Newcastle kits in the 1990s and early 2000s, a period many supporters still associate with classic shirts, big personalities and iconic Premier League moments. Because of that, adidas have always carried a certain nostalgia among Newcastle fans.

(Cook, 2023)

So when Newcastle signed with adidas again, there was huge excitement. Supporters hoped the reunion would bring back a sense of tradition while still giving the club a modern look. After years with other manufacturers, the return of the three stripes felt like a major moment, and expectations were naturally high.

Kit design, of course, is always subjective. What one supporter sees as bold and modern, another may view as messy or overdesigned.

Some fans enjoy manufacturers taking risks, while others prefer clubs with strong visual traditions to stick closer to classic templates.

Last season’s home shirt was generally seen as a safe and traditional start to the new partnership.

(Ptg, 2025)

It brought back Newcastle’s familiar black-and-white stripes with a cleaner, more classic feel, allowing Adidas to reintroduce themselves without taking too many risks. It was not universally loved, because kits rarely are, but many fans appreciated that it looked recognisably like Newcastle.

Next season’s leaked home shirt, however, has created more debate. The design still uses the club’s black-and-white colours, but it appears far more experimental.

(McCrum, 2026)

Instead of regular equal vertical stripes, the shirt features a large, thick black stripe through the middle, wider white sections and thinner black lines that create a busier “barcode” effect.

Blue detailing also appears to play a role, including blue adidas stripes and trim around areas such as the collar and sleeves, giving the kit a more divisive look.

Even though the design keeps the familiar Newcastle identity, it has been criticised by some supporters, while some even wondered if it is the worst shirt they have ever had.

The outrage extended after the Juventus kit for 26/27 was revealed.

Juventus, like Newcastle are famous for black-and-white stripes.

Newcastle supporters were left annoyed and frustrated after seeing their home kit was much less refined in comparison to Juventus’ kit.

(Juventus, 2026)
(Culture, 2026)

The Italian giants’ latest shirt is a stylish take on their famous black-and-white stripes.

The jersey keeps Juventus’ traditional vertical stripe pattern but gives it a cleaner, more elegant feel, with neat black stripes set against a white base.

It features a smart collar, gold detailing on the adidas logo and club crest, and a polished overall look that leans heavily into tradition rather than experimentation.

Paired with white shorts and white socks, it is a classic Juventus home kit with a premium finish.

The contrast between the two kits sparked irritation online.

Fans questioned why Juventus appeared to have received the sort of classy striped shirt Newcastle supporters were hoping for. For many, it was not simply that Juventus’ kit looks good, but that it looks like the kind of design that would have suited Newcastle perfectly.

Some even took matters into their own hands and made a concept kit that would be ideal for Newcastle.

Adidas had shown an understanding of making a good black and white kit; unfortunately for Newcastle fans, it was for the club in Turin.

Juventus’ new shirt also carries echoes of one of Newcastle’s most beloved kits. With its clean vertical stripes and smart collar, the Juventus jersey has reminded some supporters of Newcastle’s 1995–97 adidas home shirt, the famous Entertainers-era design worn under Kevin Keegan. That shirt had a grandad collar, evenly spaced black-and-white stripes and remains one of the most nostalgic kits in the club’s modern history.

paninsports (@paninfootball) • Instagram photos and videos. (n.d.). Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/ChIcAYbvMQw/

Football shirts carry years of tradition, supporter expectation and club identity; for fans, they are not just merchandise, but also an emotional connection with their club, which is why seeing the kit made for Juventus annoyed Newcastle supporters. It left them wondering about the kit that would’ve been, if Adidas had stuck to the same inspiration for the club in Tyne and Wear.

REFERENCES:

Cook, G. (2023, September 1). Adidas Signs Deal with Newcastle United to Become New Kit Manufacturer – SportsLogos.Net News. SportsLogos.Net News. https://news.sportslogos.net/2023/09/01/adidas-signs-deal-with-newcastle-united-to-become-new-kit-manufacturer/soccer/

Culture, F. S. (2026, May 12). Juventus 2026-27 Home Kit by Adidas Revealed. Football Shirt Culture. https://www.footballshirtculture.com/new-kits/juventus-jersey-26-27-home-adidas.html

Juventus. (2026, May 12). Adidas and Juventus present the new 2026/27 home kit. Juventus.com. https://www.juventus.com/en/news/articles/adidas-and-juventus-present-the-new-2026-27-home-kit

McCrum, B. (2026, May 10). Newcastle United home shirt for 26/27 leaked and fans call it the worst kit of all-time. SPORTbible. https://www.sportbible.com/football/premier-league/newcastle-united-leaked-home-kit-worst-of-all-time-152814-20260510

Odedra, R. (2022, September 1). World Cup 2022 kits: adidas release bold new shirts for Spain, Germany, Japan and more. Goal.com India. https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/adidas-2022-world-cup-kits/blt11a3719f101ca262

Ptg. (2025, May 29). Newcastle United 25-26 Home Kit Released. Footy Headlines. https://www.footyheadlines.com/2024/09/newcastle-united-25-26-home-kit.html

paninsports (@paninfootball) • Instagram photos and videos. (n.d.). Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/ChIcAYbvMQw/

Sports, N. (2023, September 1). The Newcastle United is back with adidas. Nss Sports. https://www.nss-sports.com/en/lifestyle/34149/newcastle-united-adidas-sponsor

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