The football season has been unprecedentedly strange and normal life has been turned upside down by a pandemic, but the football kits are still as fresh as ever.
With 2020 coming to an end, we have researched and scrutinised an ungodly number of jerseys to bring you the definitive list of this year’s very best.
Manchester City, away – Puma
Using black and dark denim as the primary colours and taking inspiration from local architecture, Manchester City‘s patterned away top is the most eye-catching jersey in the Premier League this season.
“The new away jersey features a striking all-over pattern inspired by Castlefield and the Bridgewater canal, an area symbolic of Manchester’s past, present and future,” revealed Puma.
A shirt close to home – worn away 💙
Our new @pumafootball 2020/21 away kit.
SHOP NOW: https://t.co/4RszdMCczM
🔵 #ThisIsOurCity pic.twitter.com/SqYyRUC3gs
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 3, 2020
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Nigeria, home – Nike
Nike were always going to have produce something special to follow up on the amazing Nigeria kit they manufactured for the 2018 World Cup. And they have surpassed, don’t you know.
2020-21 Nigeria Home Shirt pic.twitter.com/kcD0KBdlAw
— Sport Kits (@sportkitsjourno) December 24, 2020
Ajax, away – Adidas
A stunning production from Adidas, Ajax’s away jersey this season is both stunning and bold without feeling like it’s tried too much. The Dutch side have always worn quality kits, but this retro-inspired effort is the best we’ve seen in years.
Ajax' new away kit is quite something 😍 pic.twitter.com/LFlY1V9fZd
— Goal (@goal) June 11, 2020
Forward Madison, alternate – Hummel
When it comes to football kits, Forward Madison possess some sort of cheat code. Their best ever might be the Drip Kit that they dropped earlier this year. It is an eye-popping psychedelic beauty, produced by iconic Danish brand Hummel, of course.
Need another reason to watch our home opener tonight?
We can confirm that the Drip Kit will make its Forward Madison debut. 💧🦩 pic.twitter.com/CHbXAjha3W
— Forward Madison FC (@ForwardMSNFC) July 31, 2020
Here is every jersey the USL League One outfit has worn over the past two seasons, in all of their wondrous glory:
Got… Got… Got… Need…
How's your FMFC Kit Bingo looking? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/9YWFSzLLmm
— Forward Madison FC (@ForwardMSNFC) December 16, 2020
Five of the Premier League’s worst away and third kits in 2020/21
Pescara Calcio, alternate – Errea
One of the most fun designs of the year, Pescara’s Rainbow kit was created by a six-year-old fan as part of a contest ran by the club to “give a kick to Covid-19”.
Important Shirts of the Year
The Pescara Rainbow kit: Designed by 6 year old Luigi D’Agostino.
Since stocking this item back in May we have been able to donate over £20,000 to selected charities. Thank you Luigi.
🛒 You can buy one here – https://t.co/fQqwdWm0Oz pic.twitter.com/r3Ke5svBuG
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) December 21, 2020
Best of 2020: Five of the greatest goals from the last year of club football
Bristol City, goalkeeper home – Hummel
Based on Denmark’s goalkeeper top from their successful Euro 92 campaign, Bristol City’s goalie jersey is absolutely stunning.
Bristol City's new GK kit is inspired by the Denmark '92 design and we approve! pic.twitter.com/Y3jp11vUOp
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) August 20, 2020
Italy, home – Puma
The Renaissance is having a… Renaissance with Puma’s latest design for Italy’s home shirt. The subtle pattern, minimal dark blue collar and classic azzurro colour make this an instant favourite.
The Italians will once again be the best dressed at a major international tournament when they line out for Euro 2020 next summer.
Italy unveil their new Renaissance-inspired home kit for EURO 2021 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/tiOQUcM79X
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 31, 2020
Barcodes and bus seats: The most underwhelming Premier League kits of 2020/21
Providence City, alternate – INARIA Soccer
Another American soccer club that has been killing it in the kit stakes is Providence City, who produced this fantastically sweet design to coincide with their sponsorship by a local donut shop.
2020 Treat Yo’ Self kit 👈
🔗 https://t.co/tUziA3y0Ns pic.twitter.com/ZiRmCCWSUK
— Providence City FC (@providencecity_) October 23, 2020
Here are all of Providence’s kits from 2020 for you to admire:
Vote for your favorite Providence City FC kit of 2020 pic.twitter.com/99tQ7cHiwG
— Providence City FC (@providencecity_) December 3, 2020
Arsenal, home – Adidas
Adidas have not missed a beat since returning to Arsenal and their latest design continues that trend. Sporting a two-tone chevron design on the front and a simple crew neck collar, this one has flown off the shelves.
The official press release says the top pays tribute to Arsenal’s geometric crest which the club used from 1936–1949, the chevron graphic on the home jersey is “inspired by the ‘A’ within.”
Fresh look, making moves ✊
The new home kit from adidas x The Arsenal
Exclusively available in-store and online now 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 23, 2020
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AFC Wimbledon, home – Puma
In the year that AFC Wimbledon returned to their spiritual home of Plough Lane, the south London club also harked back to the past with their latest home jersey.
The Puma design is a tribute to the one they wore in 1982/83, the season they won promotion to Division Three. A clean, crisp blue and yellow effort, this one looks even better in person.
Home and Away kit now available online!
Get yours here: https://t.co/zty1P1dRUL#AFCW pic.twitter.com/N3hOf1QK2U
— AFC Wimbledon (@AFCWimbledon) September 2, 2020
Red Star FC, home & away – Adidas
Lower league clubs tend not to get such personalised kit designs from the big manufacturers, but we’re so glad Adidas made an exception on this one. Red Star FC, the third oldest French football club, released a brilliant set of jerseys that features a bespoke all-over print referencing a local flea market close to the club’s stadium.
レッドスターFC93 2020-21 ユニフォームhttps://t.co/DYrRM4I1z7
Red Star FC 2020/2021 Home & Away Jerseys pic.twitter.com/mlz8negKIg— ユニ11 (@uniform_11) August 7, 2020
The third tier club’s jerseys are so very French, and a football hipster’s dream at that.
The best new jerseys of the 2020/21 Premier League season
Coventry City, home – Hummel
An ode to a classic Premier League kit, we just couldn’t leave Coventry City’s latest home jersey out of this list.
Is that a bit of the 1992-94 shirt we see?
The new 2020-21 Coventry home kit has a subtle reference to the Ribero classic pic.twitter.com/dteAEmxomY
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) August 27, 2020
Southend United, away – Hummel
Yet more love for lower league kits (and Hummel), this time Southend United’s current home edition. The shiny diamond pattern is based on the club’s 1995–96 outfits and is one of our favourites from this year.
🔍 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚜…
🔷 x 🔽 x 𝗦𝗨𝗙𝗖
Thoughts on the new away kit, #Blues fans? pic.twitter.com/a4HhETarfm
— Southend United (@SUFCRootsHall) August 7, 2020
From Italia 90 to Euro 2016 – Five of the best Ireland jerseys of all-time
Chicago Red Stars, away – Nike
No strangers to great kits, the Chicago Red Stars and Nike came up with arguably their best to date with ‘The Neighborhood Kit’.
This is a great example of matching a concept with excellent design, the 77 neighbourhoods of Chicago embedded within the powder blue horizontal stripes to recreate the state flag. The same effect on the back depicts the Chicago skyline.
There's no place like Chicago.
Introducing: The Neighborhood Kit🔗: https://t.co/Peko2FFaEc pic.twitter.com/RsvVPyupjR
— Chicago Red Stars (@chiredstarsPR) May 1, 2020
We will be keeping a close eye on the NWSL outfit to see what they come up with in 2021.
Roma, home & away – Nike
In what it turns out are Nike’s final set of Roma kits after eight years together, the Serie A club are currently sporting two of the best jerseys in European football.
The home jersey is an excellent take on a classic design, while the away version, with its maroon collar and details and black lupetto badge, is magnificent.
In the spirit of giving during the holiday season, I want to give you a chance to win one of the best home-and-away kits of all-time, thanks to my amazing friends at @ASRomaEN!
So retweet, follow, and leave a comment to enter and I’ll name the winners this weekend.
DAJE! pic.twitter.com/BaRdEDu5qg
— Jimmy Conrad (@JimmyConrad) December 24, 2020
It simply wouldn’t be a best kits list without AS Roma.
Read: Five of the best football books of 2020, from Roy Keane to Neville Southall
Best of 2020: Seven incredible non-football moments from the Premier League this year
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