Ah, and here’s where the designers really have their fun! Yep, following our home and away round ups, we’re onto the 10 best third shirts for the 26/27 season from around Europe.
Third shirts are usually where designers can really let loose, free from the constraints of tradition and the expectations that come with away kits. For the 2026/27 season, I've tried to include a broad range of design approaches, from bold and brazen statements to crisp, clean executions, with plenty of compelling storytelling sprinkled in for good measure. Once again, adidas lead the way with four shirts in the selection, while the remaining six teams are represented by Nike, PUMA, Macron, Kappa, Mizuno and Reebok, highlighting the strength and diversity of design on show this season.
10. Crystal Palace (Macron)
Probably the boldest of the lot, Crystal Palace's third shirt arrives in a season where, more often than not, less has proved to be more. The fact that this looks more like a traditional home shirt for the Premier League side is unusual, but I love just how brazen Macron have been with this design.
9. Juventus (adidas)
Black and gold almost always look good. With this one, it feels as though the designers looked at that classic colour combination and asked themselves, "How can we make it even better?" The answer, apparently, was to throw some flames into the mix. Sounds over the top, yet somehow it just works.
8. Genoa (Kappa)
Inspired by the maritime history of the city, Genoa's third shirt design has a proper nautical vibe to it. Also feels like a unique twist on the club's traditional colours. Is it weird that it's basically the same colours as the home shirt? Well, yeah, but I'm choosing to ignore that.
7. Barcelona (Nike)
This design is a nice combination of having a retro vibe, but it's very much future-facing – Nike getting that balance spot on.
6. Estoril Praia (Reebok)
The Portuguese side are the beneficiaries of some subtle but sleek design work. The combination of navy and black tones with gold accents really is a winning formula.
5. Palermo (PUMA)
This design really has been a grower, and I think it's better when viewed as part of the whole kit, probably owing to how the neon pops in the shorts and namesets. It really feels like this is how an Inter Miami shirt should look.
4. Manchester United (adidas)
Pretty much the epitome of the stripped back, clean aesthetic that has been the overriding trend of the designs for the 26/27 season kits. This one does it better than most, with that simple centralisation of the branding, crest and sponsor lending the look a certain symmetry. Add to that the stripped back sponsor (not in Europe due to pesky UEFA rulings) and it's a winner.
3. Olympique Lyon (adidas)
The best designs are often all about the little details, and Lyon's third shirt couldn't be a better example. The black base plays host to the playful trim, and the Three Stripe branding getting in on the act elevates this one to another level.
2. Augsburg (Mizuno)
There's a few club/brand partnerships in world football in which you simply don't get bad kits, and Augsburg and Mizuno are one of them. But beyond not having bad kits, they actually consistently drop some of the best kits around, both in terms of design and the storytelling behind it. This design is a case in point.
1. Eintracht Frankfurt (adidas)
So much to love about this design, from the base colour to the way the “Bembel” pattern, inspired by Frankfurt’s traditional apple wine jug, opens to reveal the centrally positioned brand and club crest. The final piece in Frankfurt's incredibly impressive kit set for the season.
Check out the top 10 home shirts for the 26/27 season here, and the top 10 away shirts here.
Shop 26/27 season replica at prodirectsport.com/soccer
