Creative Soccer Culture

New Balance Unveil 25/26 Bayer Leverkusen Away Shirt With Local Pride At Its Core

While Bayer Leverkusen's pre-season takes them across the Atlantic to the buzzing streets of Rio de Janeiro, their new 2025/26 away shirt takes things back to the heart of home. Presented at the start of their Brazilian training camp, the latest drop from New Balance is a love letter to Leverkusen itself — a city shaped by iron industry and serene gardens alike.

In a season-defining statement, New Balance has delivered a kit that bridges Leverkusen’s dual identity. A bold crimson-to-angora gradient flows through the shirt, an aesthetic embodiment of the club's industrial roots and natural elegance. The deep red bleeds up from the base, evoking the Bayer factory skyline that dominates the city's silhouette, while creamy white tones lighten the mood, nodding to the calm serenity of Leverkusen’s iconic Japanese Garden — one of the oldest and largest of its kind in Europe.

Adding to the depth, subtle floral shadow graphics bloom across the body, a detail that speaks softly but carries weight. It's a nod to the local, the lived-in, and the quietly revered. More than a kit, it’s a wearable map of Leverkusen’s story.

Branding remains clean and sharp. The Bayer 04 crest takes pride of place on the left chest, balanced by New Balance’s logo on the right. Around the neck, “Werkself” lettering adds that final touch of club identity, reminding fans and opponents alike what this team is all about.

The look is completed with off-white shorts and socks, creating a minimalist contrast to the shirt’s rich colour gradient. The overall vibe? Sleek, grounded, and fiercely local — much like the team it represents.

Markus Breglec, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer at Bayer 04, sums it up best: “In collaboration with our partner New Balance, we wanted to ensure that the city's attitude was authentically expressed in the design of the new away kit. While it's bold and vibrant, it draws inspiration from the city and its colours.

Andrew McGarty, New Balance’s Global Director of Football Sports Marketing, adds: “We designed this kit to express the essence of Leverkusen – a city defined by contrasts and character. The colour gradient reflects both the raw intensity of the factory skyline and the tranquil beauty of the gardens.

Set to make its first on-pitch appearance on 18 July in a friendly against Flamengo U20s in Rio, the kit’s message is clear: no matter where Leverkusen go, they carry home with them. Bold by design, proud by nature — the Werkself way.

Shop the Bayer Leverkusen 25/26 away shirt at newbalance.com

Author
Daniel Jones

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