Adidas has absolutely dominated proceedings this year on the boot front with the Predator 24, but as the year edges towards its conclusion, we get a first glimpse at what’s coming next, with England’s Alessia Russo and Grace Clinton lacing up in the next generation Predator 25.
It’s been one hell of a year for adidas and specifically for the Predator, which really found its modern day groove, combining some classic aesthetics with progressive innovations. Spearheaded by the likes of Jude Bellingham, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Aitana Bonmati, it went on to have 17 colourways in the widely preferred fold-over tongue variation, and, well, it was just the dogs basically. So it was always going to be sad to see it go, and by equal measure, interesting to see what direction adidas took the franchise. And now we get a bit of an answer.
Rocking up for the latest Lionesses camp ahead of the friendlies against USA and Switzerland, Alessia Russo switched out of her David Beckham-produced Originals Predator 24 and into what looks to be the launch colourway of the next generation of the Predator line. And she was joined by Grace Clinton, who also switched into the new, yet familiar, look. We say familiar because, despite the 17 colourways for the Predator 24, there was one iconic look that was omitted from the release schedule – the champagne Predator Mania look. Now it all looks like part of the plan, with Adidas holding that look back for this, the launch of the next generation, which we are currently assuming will be called the Predator 25. At least that’s what we’ll be calling it until we hear otherwise.
The look sees that off-white upper joined by that famous red flash of the tongue, while black accents complete the look.
Once you get past the aesthetics, at first glance it doesn’t look like the changes are all that radical. Fold-over tongue still in place? Check. Accelerator-esque Three Stripes running on the sides? Check. Rubber Strikeskin in the forefoot? Check. But a closer look shows that there’s certainly tweaks with all three of those elements. The tongue is a slightly different shape and likewise, the Three Stripes branding. But the biggest difference looks to be with the rubber elements in the forefoot, which appear to have taken on a much more delicate, almost lined approach – almost more Absolute than Mania.
Not a lot more we can tell from these early looks, but certainly one to get excited for.
Keep your eyes peeled for further looks at the next gen adidas Predator ahead of its launch.
