Manchester United’s “very elegant” and eye-catching new Adidas-made away kit carries an important message behind it after the colour blue was used for it.
That is according to Adidas design director Inigo Turner, who shared a deeper insight into the Red Devils’ latest kit ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season.
Manchester United dropped the first official look at their new shirt earlier this week, which features the Snapdragon sponsor at the centre of the blue-themed kit.
Adidas and Man Utd’s logos are on either side of the shirt and the Red Devils’ away kit sports red stripes both on the shoulders and on the V-neck collar as well.
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Adidas design director Inigo Turner says that the blue look is a throwback to Man Utd’s history
The blue colour design has been featured on Manchester United’s shirts in the past, including under former Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson in the 2008-2009 season.
As well as the red and blue on the away shirt, the V-neck collar features white, which is used again at the end of the short arm sleeves in stripes alongside the red.
Speaking on the Inside Carrington podcast, Inigo Turner admitted that the blue element of Man Utd’s new kit is “more influenced” by the look from 1986 to 1988.
“It’s kind of a collective memory of United shirts, so it’s great when Wes [Brown] says it reminds him of the shirt he wore in 2005,” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“It’s probably more influenced by ’86 to ’88, the blue shade; it’s been synonymous with United since ’68 and has been there as a sort of third-kit colour principally, but we move them around sometimes between away and third.
“It’s inspired by that; it’s very elegant. We play with the tonal detailing, so there’s an engineered shiny, wavy stripe running through it which is a little bit of a nod to the jerseys of that era.
“They had more straight stripes, but we’re bringing it into the current day, making it wavy, making it have its own personality.”
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Inigo Turner says that Adidas wanted to ensure that the ‘DNA’ of Man Utd was maintained
The Red Devils are currently away on their pre-season tour and preparing for the upcoming 2026-27 Premier League campaign under Man Utd boss Michael Carrick.
Turner added that Adidas produced a kit that embodied core parts of Man Utd’s identity in it, including how the collar has been designed for the blue shirt.
“Then the collar is really important,” he explained.
“It’s really iconic and has those United elements in there really boldly. Then the detail on the shirt as well, the three stripes [are] this herringbone tape; it’s really nice when you get up close.
“The execution of the logos is this sort of raised puff texture, which again there’s that zeitgeist, it’s all high performance but definitely leaning into the DNA again.”
Man Utd will begin their new Premier League campaign against Hull City on 22nd August at the MKM Stadium.
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