Manchester United's new kit reviewed: Big stripes, memories of 1977, but a bit too Nottingham Forest?

AFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsManchester United’s new kit reviewed: Big stripes, memories of 1977, but a bit too Nottingham Forest?Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad modelling next season's kit Adidas/Manchester United Share articleIt’s red. It comes with a collar. It boasts some of the largest stripes you’ve ever seen down a kit’s sleeves, and it will be one of the biggest-selling shirts of the 2026-27 season. This Thursday saw Manchester United unveil their new home kit for the 2026-27 season. Produced by Adidas, the new shirt takes inspiration from United kits from the 1970s to create something that “feels both nostalgic and progressive”, according to official club documents. And, for the first time in United history, the new home kit will be given an early debut, with United Women wearing it on Saturday against Chelsea in their final WSL fixture of the season, before Michael Carrick’s men don the new outfit on Sunday for their final home fixture against Nottingham Forest. Where the 2025-26 home kit was said to take inspiration from design elements around Old Trafford, the 2026-27 kit takes cues from the past, with Adidas citing the FA Cup-winning kit from the 1976-77 season as an influence on the new kit. Back then, manager Tommy Docherty led a team featuring Martin Buchan, Gordon Hill, Stuart Pearson and Lou Macari to their first piece of silverware since their European Cup triumph in 1968. The new goalkeeper kit is an all-black affair, featuring a crew neck instead of a collar and camouflage detailing on the sleeves and shorts. The new shirt will be paired with United’s traditional combination of white shorts and black socks in domestic competition, and is on sale via the official club website and selected retailers, including the Old Trafford Megastore. The home kit will be available in replica or ‘authentic’ versions (the latter closer to what United players wear in games). Prices for the new kits start at £85 ($114) for adult shirts and £55 for children. United’s away and third kits are expected to be released later this summer, with the club beginning their pre-season on July 18 with a game against Wrexham in Helsinki, Finland. What goes into a decent United home kit? There are the obvious elements, like getting the correct shade of red, and there are the intangibles that fall into the ‘I know it when I see it’ category. United’s new home effort comes with a particularly thick version of Adidas’ three stripes down the sleeves. It’s the boldest element in an otherwise clean and minimalist kit design, and one that particularly sticks out in the long-sleeve version of the kit. Competition badges and a new sleeve sponsor (United’s partnership with DXC Technology ends in May 2026, one of several sponsorship deals the club are trying to replace), may break focus on the arresting sleeve design, but has the decision to go with a red collar, rather than the white of 1976-77, resulted in a kit that bears a few similarities to Nottingham Forest’s current home kit? Perhaps the new design is a subtle ploy to further convince Elliot Anderson to make the move from Forest to Old Trafford. United aren’t the only European side to look to the past to inspire kits of the future, but Adidas has attempted to honour the 50-year anniversary of a well-remembered FA Cup-winning side, rather than continue to plough the 30-year nostalgia cycle as favoured by many other football teams and nations. Perhaps the club will return to the recognisable sleeve designs of 1997 next summer. A price of £85 for the replica or up to £125 for a long-sleeve higher-spec players’ version again raises questions about the affordability of kits released every season, and why more consumers are turning to fake shirts from online retailers. Silverware is a key ingredient in any beloved home kit. If Carrick is confirmed as United’s permanent manager in 2026-27 and leads this team to success, this kit may become a fan favourite.  Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms