Sometimes a football shirt comes along that manages to do something genuinely different. Not through a wild colourway or a controversial graphic, but by rethinking a design element that's usually taken for granted. That's exactly what adidas and Olympique Lyonnais have achieved with the club's new 2026/27 third shirt.
Created for both OL and OL Lyonnes, the new third kit celebrates Lyon's rich musical heritage, paying tribute to the funk culture that has long been part of the city's creative identity. But while the concept is rooted in music, it's the execution that really steals the show.
At first glance, the shirt arrives in a stealthy black base, giving it an understated and premium look. Look closer, though, and the design starts to reveal its personality. Subtle circular patterns flow across the body of the shirt, mimicking the grooves of a vinyl record and bringing a sense of movement to the otherwise dark backdrop.
The real masterstroke, however, is found in the adidas Three Stripes.
Branding is usually just that: branding. A familiar logo placement on the chest, opposite the club crest, job done. But for certain companies, their branding often becomes part of the design. That's certainly been the case for the adidas Three Stripes over the years, but here, it gets elevated to a whole other level. Here, adidas have made the Three Stripes an integral part of the storytelling. Running along the shoulders, the stripes ditch their traditional solid-colour appearance in favour of a vibrant, undulating pattern, weaving together pink, blue and yellow tones in a way that feels directly connected to the shirt's funk-inspired concept.
Looking at the shirt, the effect is almost hypnotic. The wavy stripes resemble soundwaves, spinning vinyl distortions or psychedelic visualisers moving in time with a bassline. Rather than feeling like an added detail, they become one of the defining elements of the entire design.
And it doesn't stop there. The same colourful wave pattern continues onto the sleeve cuffs, creating a cohesive visual language across the shirt. It's rare to see a brand's signature graphic become so deeply embedded within the overall aesthetic of a kit, but here it works brilliantly. The Three Stripes aren't sitting on top of the design, rather they are an integral part of the design.
That commitment to the theme extends throughout the jersey. The flowing circular textures across the body nod to record grooves, while the vibrant accents capture the movement, rhythm and communal energy synonymous with funk music. Every element feels connected, helping to tell the story of Lyon's celebrated music scene without resorting to obvious references.
The detailing is equally impressive. Both the adidas Performance logo and the Olympique Lyonnais crest receive special multicoloured treatments, echoing the vibrant palette used throughout the shirt. The adidas logo is filled with diagonal pastel segments in shades of turquoise, pink, orange and blue, while the club crest is outlined with the same colourful embroidery, helping both marks stand out sharply against the black base.
An exclusive signature inside the collar completes the look, rendered in typography inspired by classic funk-era graphics and further reinforcing the musical narrative.
Football shirts inspired by music are nothing new, but few manage to blend the two worlds as seamlessly as this. By transforming the iconic Three Stripes from a piece of branding into a central design feature, adidas have produced one of the most inventive – and arguably most effective – third kits of the season.
It's bold without being loud, creative without trying too hard, and proof that sometimes the most familiar elements can have the biggest impact when viewed from a different angle.
The OL and OL Lyonnes third kit is available at adidas.com
