With preseason almost at an end and the 22/23 season kick off right around the corner, teams have been releasing their new kits ready for the campaign. And as is the trend these days, accompanying the standard home, away and third shirts are some stunning prematch shirts.
The prematch shirt has rapidly grown as an alternative to the higher-priced, match-worn options. And, as we’ve seen in recent seasons, there’s a freedom of design with them; it’s a shackles-are-off-type situation, giving us some far more wild looks than what we get on-pitch. So we’ve rounded up what we think are the best to debut during preseason so far.
Nike are leading the charge for us, providing bespoke options for their teams, ini contrast to the use of templates in their match attire. As they have done regularly in the recent past, adidas have adopted a template approach, switching colours for respective teams. PUMA then do something similar, with both colours and asymmetrical panels switching positions for each team. Hummel and Kappa get in on the act also with some standout designs, and they’re all ready for you to peruse below.
Real Madrid Home
Adopting the white and purple hues of the home shirt, with the template chevron pattern that features across all the Three Stripes' primary teams this season.
Manchester City Home
City have also got this design in a darker, grey style, which they've also debuted. Here though, it's presented in the club's traditional colours, with those asymmetrical patterns playing across the base.
Barcelona Home
Barcelona have already debuted home and away prematch shirts, and both are decent. If it weren't for the sponsor interrupting the sash on the away, then it definitely would've featured, as it is though we've plumped for the home shirt. Slightly reminiscent of last season's home shirt, although the glitch effect works far better here.
PSG x Jordan away
Quite an understated look for PSG, with a black and charcoal graphic playing across the shirt, with the Jumpman and club crest standing out in a contrasting white.
Chelsea Home
The Chelsea prematch shirt takes the graphic from the home shirt's collar (itself lifted from the club crest) and expands it across the whole thing.
Tottenham Hotspur away
Another understated design like PSG's, the Spurs prematch shirt takes the colours of the new away shirt and combines it with a sublimated graphic that sees the word 'Spurs' repeated throughout.
Manchester United Home
Coming in the club's traditional Red, white and black, this shirt ties in with both the home and away shirts this season. The chevrons play across in opposing diagonal flows.
Inter Milan Home
Where do we even start describing this one? A wild array of shapes, presented in differing shades of blue. Yep, that'll have to do.
AC Milan Home
Another from PUMA, presented in the Rossoneri's classic colours. Red takes the base, with black as the overlaying colour.
RB Salzburg
If you didn't know this was Nike you'd be forgiven for thinking it was another from PUMA. South African side Kaizer Chiefs had a similar look, but since this is a European roundup, Salzburg get the nod. Veers dangerously close to United's 20/21 third shirt.
Liverpool Away
Like the away kit, this one's not yet been released, but it does come in a nice complementary design.
Everton Home
If ever a prematch shirt should be a proper home shirt, then this surely is it. Absolute blinder from Hummel, bringing with it some Club América vibes. Sadly, not yet available to buy...
Borussia Dortmund Home
Another in the PUMA template, switching to yellow and black. Always that 1&1 sponsor to spoil the party though. Shame, as otherwise a good look.
Then rounding things off with a few that have been released but have yet to debut; first up you get an belter for Atletico Madrid, which sees some beautiful artwork appearing in black on that red base. Then Galatasaray get a rip-style execution in the club's classic colours. Another that would be cracking as the club's official home shirt.
Couldn't really not include Venezia's new prematch shirt either, could we? And rounding things off, while this is meant to be a club only roundup, we had to have a shout out for the Lionesses prematch option – simply stunning.
Shop all 22/23 season replica, including prematch shirts, at prodirectsoccer.com
