Manchester United release new 2020-21 third kit

Today Manchester United officially unveiled their new third kit just over a week before the 2020-21 Premier League season is set to start.

The “Dazzle Camouflage” jersey was inspired by a striped design worn by Manchester United in a friendly against Sheffield United at Old Trafford in 1910 and based on cues from stripes found on early versions of the Manchester coat of arms (referencing the rivers Irk, Irwell and Medlock), as well as designs found within Manchester Central Library.

While the home and away kits will represent more of the traditional colors of United, the camo kit was designed to attract younger fans and will be treated as a “fashion item.”

Inigo Turner, design director at Adidas, commented on the new design during a recent interview with the Athletic, stating:

“We’ve tried to do progressive things across all kits but the third kit is most commonly the playground for being expressive and where we can try different things”.

Turner added that the jersey aims to “provide a fresh update to tradition while delivering a vibrant new print,” and that the inside collar of the shirt features a “110 years of stripes” message, tying it to United’s wider history.

When United sport the jersey in a match, it will be paired with plain white shorts and socks, although short and socks with the same “dazzle camo” pattern are available for fans to purchase. Under equipment guidelines set out by UEFA, this third kit — particularly when worn with white shorts and socks — would fall under the “light” criteria compared to the “dark” home and green away kits.