Nike are set to unleash their first major disruptive moves of 2020 after Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz laced up in a pair of special edition football boots last night as his side beat Union Berlin 3-1 to progress to the semi-final of the DFB Cup.
While Nike have already released two major on pitch collections this year in the form of the 'Future Lab' pack and 'Kinetic Black' pack, as well as a first look at their Air Zoom Mercurial project, the Swoosh have yet to turn on their trademark limited edition game this decade. But, all that's about to change, starting with Havertz's Hypervenom-infused design worn last night.
The young German is one of Nike's leading PhantomVSN players, and the boot he wore last night is a tribute to what the VSN has evolved from. Back in 2013 Nike launched the Hypervenom series fronted by Neymar, it was a boot that would last three series before being replaced by the PhantomVSN series but most players would agree that it peaked at the first generation thanks to its super-soft Nike Skin upper, and it's this "Laser Orange/Black" colourway from the first ever Hypervenom that has been chosen to kick off Nike's first limited project of 2020.
The PhantomVSN has essentially been dressed as Hypervenom by Nike as the Swoosh look to celebrate their archive while mixing it with their latest innovations. Even the iconic skull and cross-bones from the OG Hypervenom has been carried over to the PhantomVSN in a look that literally replicates the aesthetic of the 2013 silo on the silhouette of the 2020 VSN. With Nike still using a traditional four-silo set-up on their professional players, there's certainly legs for a statement series here.
Stay tuned for an official launch later this week...
