It has been announced West Ham will be switching kit makers to top US brand New Balance and now a first concept kit has dropped.
West Ham will end a long-running partnership with Umbro when the deal expires next year.
That means West Ham’s 130-year anniversary kit next season with be Umbro’s last – until 2031 at least.
Because leading US sports brand New Balance has signed a five-year deal to take over from the 2026/27 season.
New Balance is a major player in the footwear and sportswear industry with a strong global presence and annual revenue of nearly £6m.
Umbro out and New Balance in at West Ham
As things stand West Ham will be the only Premier League club with New Balance as their kit maker.
The firm previously made Liverpool’s kits before they moved over to Nike.
There has been frequent speculation over West Ham’s kit manufacturer for several years.
There was talk of the Hammers switching to Nike for the first time or going back to Adidas have circulated.
Especially when current kit maker Umbro didn’t get things right, angering some West Ham fans with designs and colour choices.
Many supporters were – and still are – baffled by the white and orange kit Umbro brought out in 2023.
Although it became somewhat iconic as the strip West Ham wore when they won the Europa Conference League final.
The firm did redeem itself somewhat with this season’s kits which have – on the whole – been very well received.
But next term’s will be their last before New Balance takes over.
First New Balance West Ham concept kit drops
Now the first New Balance West Ham concept kit has dropped and it’s a sight to behold after the announcement.
West Ham had been in talks with several kit manufacturers about a move away from Umbro.
The club has been reviewing the market by talking to the other major brands who make Premier League strips, including Castore, Puma and Macron in addition to Nike and Adidas.
Castore, who have lost their three Premier League clubs Villa, Newcastle and Wolves after much-publicised issues, was pushing to replace Umbro as West Ham’s manufacturer.
But the Hammers snubbed Castore to sign up with New Balance, who are headquartered in Boston and have a big store in Westfield Stratford next to the London Stadium.
Given the company hasn’t made any Premier League kits for a few years, West Ham fans have been wondering how their future New Balance strips might look.
Now they will get a better idea thanks to a talented designer and West Ham fan who has reshared a New Balance mock-up design he did previously.
“What’s your thoughts on our new shirt manufacturer for the 26/27 season?” Sam said when sharing the stunning concept kit.
The shirt is a white and sky blue striped away kit mock-up with the ‘NB’ New Balance logo.
The design, which you can see in the post below, features claret and blue piping on the neck and claret, sky blue and navy blue piping on the sleeves.
Hammers mock-up teases what’s to come with New Balance
Most West Ham fans have been loving the design and it seems to have really whetted the appetite for the sportswear giant taking over from Umbro.
There are sure to be many more where this came from.
But there is a very important kit to be made first, by Umbro.
West Ham’s current kit maker will want to go out on a high and show other teams what it can offer by coming up with a strip fitting of the club’s 130 years in existence.
Founded as Thames Ironworks in 1895, the club officially became West Ham on July 5th 1900.
That date is likely when West Ham fans can expect to start hearing news and seeing images teased of next season’s final Umbro release.
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