Manchester United are set to wear next season’s home shirt for the final two games of this season against Nottingham Forest and Brighton, Daily Mail Sport understands.
In a move that has become increasingly popular for Premier League sides in recent years, the new jersey is expected to get an early outing ahead of the summer, when the kits will go on sale.
The 2026-27 kit, manufactured by adidas, has drawn inspiration from famous United kits in the 1970s, with a striped collar as well as ‘United’ written onto the back collar.
While United did not debut the current home shirt prematurely at the end of last season, the phenomenon isn’t new and often it can prove to be a huge commercial success.
Arsenal have done it previously – as recently as last year they did it in a match against Newcastle United – while Tottenham Hotspur proved ahead of their time when they wore next season’s shirt in the 1987 FA Cup final.
On Wednesday night, Bayern Munich will debut their home shirt for the 2026-27 season in their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Insiders believe wearing the kit in advance – last season United first wore the current home shirt in an Old Trafford friendly against Fiorentina – is a chance to jump start anticipation for the kit in a prominent game, given the lengthy break before the club’s pre-season tour in July.
Manchester United declined to comment about next season’s kit when approached by Daily Mail Sport.
Meanwhile, United’s commercial team are increasingly busy in the days that followed Michael Carrick and his side confirming a return to the Champions League for next season.
A return to Europe’s premier club competition has strengthened United’s hand commercially with companies eager to align themselves with a club back on the up.
It’s understood that United are in advanced negotiations with betting company Betway to become the club’s new training kit sponsor from next season.
The proposed deal, which insiders have suggested could exceed £18million per year, would bring to an end months of talks with a multi-year agreement now said to be close to being finalised.
Premier League clubs will no longer be able to use betting companies on the front of their match shirts from next season.
But that restriction does not impact training wear and betting sites have sought alternative ways to strike commercial agreements with major Premier League clubs, with Betway having previously sponsored West Ham United.
