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    Chelsea finally agree new shirt sponsor deal but face race against time to get Premier League approval for Liverpool tie

    CHELSEA have finally agreed a new shirt sponsor deal for the upcoming season with their Premier League opener against Liverpool just days away.According to The Daily Mail, the West London club have agreed a £40million-a-year deal with US technology company Infinite Athlete which will see their shirts emblazoned with the tech company’s logo.
    Chelsea unveiled their new shirt without a sponsor – but fans are not able to purchase the kit until its official launch on August 16Credit: instagram @chelseafc
    Infinite Athlete was founded last month after being acquired by Tempus ex Machina, who also signed a deal with Chelsea in April.
    The company is an AI statistics provider, and works with broadcasters and streaming services with live information on player statistics and injuries.
    Chelsea have used Tempus Ex Machina’s technology on their broadcasts since April, with the service allowing viewers to track things like live updates on player fatigue and injuries.
    The £40m-a-year deal matches that of previous front of shirt sponsor 3, who sponsored the club for three campaigns beginning in the 2020-21 season.
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    The deal expired this summer, with both sides failing to come to an agreement on a renewal.
    Chelsea’s new sponsorship comes after their protracted search for a sponsor saw the club forced to unveil a sponsorless version of their 2023-24 home shirt ahead of the upcoming season.
    Ahead of the kit’s launch, the club had seen talks with gambling company Stake and streaming platform Paramount+ fall through.
    That meant that while the shirt was unveiled early last month, the shirt has been unavailable for fans to buy.
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    The shirt is set to be released for fans to buy on August 16 and will feature the name and logo of Infinite Athlete so long as the sponsorship is approved by the Premier League.
    Chelsea fans have become accustomed to seeing the sponsorless version of their new shirt, with Chelsea wearing the stripped-back version of the kit throughout their pre-season tour of the US.
    But according to The Daily Mail, Chelsea’s shirts will include their new sponsor in their Premier League match against Liverpool on Sunday as long as the deal is rubber stamped by the Prem.

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    The news will represent a much needed boost for Chelsea owner Todd Boehly, who risked the embarrassment of seeing his club become the first top six side to enter a Premier League campaign without a sponsor.
    The additional investment will also be welcome given Chelsea are facing a massive fine and possible points deduction after a Premier League investigation into the club found financial irregularities dating back to the Roman Abramovich era.
    The investigation found that the club had made possible illegal payments to offshore companies that were not registered with the Premier League, the FA or Uefa.
    Chelsea will have to kick off the Premier League season on Sunday without new-signing Christopher Nkunku after the forward sustained a knee injury in the club’s final pre-season friendly.
    The Frenchman looked set to play a massive part in the club’s new Mauricio Pochettino-era after impressing in pre-season but is set to miss the first three months of the campaign. More

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    Man Utd fans concerned about ‘Liverpool vibes’ as Red Devils release ‘weird’ third kit with new look badge

    MANCHESTER UNITED fans have voiced their concerns about the ‘Liverpool vibes’ of their new third kit.The third shirt offers an off-white main colourway with a dark red used on the collar, crest and sponsors.
    Manchester United’s new third shirt for the 2023-24 seasonCredit: Adidas
    United legend Roy Keane also modelled the shirt… Which has been compared to a Liverpool kit by fansCredit: Adidas
    It also features a minimalist take on the United badge.
    While the shirt was generally well received, some on Twitter feel it is too similar to Liverpool kits of old.
    A United Twitter account posted the new shirt and asked fans to rate the kit out of ten.
    One United fan replied: “One.. Liverpool vibes.”
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    Another wrote: “Feels like we’ve literally just copied one of the past season Liverpool kits but made it a little different?”
    And a third conflicted fan tweeted: “I’m not really sure about this one, I don’t like it but I’d very much get it. It just feels weird.”
    Liverpool have had at least one white away or third kit every year since 2019 and had a similar off-white away shirt during the 2021-22 season.
    United said in a press release that the shirt is inspired by the “1909 Cup jersey and street style trends”.
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    It was unveiled with a video that featured a giant version of Casemiro hovering over Old Trafford and Roy Keane leering at a silver platter of prawn sandwiches.
    The third shirt has been generally well received despite the Liverpool concerns with one fan tweeting:  “This jersey is the best Man U has revealed in a long time.”
    Another wrote: “Brother, this kit is an 11/10”
    While a third added: “Best 2nd or 3rd kit in a long long time”
    The third shirt is a more conservative effort compared to United’s away shirt this season.
    The club’s green white and red striped shirt was branded “atrocious” by some sections of the United faithful on its release.
    Whether it will go on to become a cult classic remains to be seen. More

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    Premier League side release stunning new away kit with brilliant dig at rivals as ace rocks ‘Byker Grove’ look

    SHEFFIELD UNITED have released their new away kit for their return to the Premier League.The Errea kit was released with a slick video campaign which featured the teams’ players relaxing at a fictional ‘Blades Social Club’.
    Sheffield United have released a retro new away kitCredit: TWITTER @SheffieldUnited
    The release included a cheeky dig at rivals’ Sheffield WednesdayCredit: Twitter @SheffieldUnited
    Anel Ahmedodzic models the new away kit in ‘The Blades Social Club’Credit: TWITTER @SheffieldUnited
    The away kit comes in a bold yellow and is paired with Blades’ black and red accents.
    The theme of the kit and campaign is “classic away days” and harks back to the Sheffield United kits of the 1980s and 90s.
    Current stars Chris Basham, Anel Ahmedhodzic, George Baldock, Adam Davies, Yasser Larouci, Tara Bourne and Maddy Cusack all appeared in the promotional video to celebrate the kit’s release.
    They were joined by former stars Carl Asaba, Rob Kozluk and Brian Gayle, along with the club’s greatest ever player Tony Currie.
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    Blades fans will take anything they can to cheer themselves up at the moment after losing star man Iliman NDiaye to Marseille this week.
    Eagle-eyed fans also spotted a cheeky dig at rivals Sheffield Wednesday with a sign in the social club reading: “Wednesday – closed.”
    One fan replied: “I love the pettiness.”
    Another wrote: “The pettiness I can get behind.”
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    A third wrote: “Wednesday closed – class.”
    Another Blades fan saw the fun side of the retro kit, saying: “Hi @antanddec.
    “Fancy getting Chris Basham in for the Byker Grove reboot?”
    United’s white away shirt from last year will be used as a third strip next season.

    The club said in a statement about the kit release: “The yellow strip is made from a jacquard fabric with thin stripes woven into the material, it’s complimented by black and red elasticated ribbed collar and cuffs alongside yellow shorts with black trim and yellow socks with black and red trim.
    “The alternative socks and shorts options for this kit are red while the black home options will also allow for a number of different kit combinations should the Bladesmen require.
    “The launch of the kit is set in Neepsend Social Club and Canteen in Kelham Island on the outskirts of Sheffield City Centre and reflects the club’s deep connection to it’s local community and commitment to celebrating the city’s rich history, in which social clubs have a long history in Sheffield.” More

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    Barcelona break club protocol lasting 45 years with release of new away kit.. with special nod to legendary ex-player

    BARCELONA have broken 45 years of protocol by releasing a WHITE away kit for their 2023-24 season.The Catalan club typically stay clear of the colour scheme given its association with fierce rivals Real Madrid.
    Barcelona’s new white away kit… the same colour as rivals Real Madrid’s home shirtCredit: Instagram @fcbarcelona
    The red and blue bands on the sleeve of the shirt are a nod to Johan Cruyff’s armbandCredit: Instagram @fcbarcelona
    Johan Cruyff was the last Barcelona captain to wear a white kit… against Aston VillaCredit: Rex
    But there is a good reason behind this season’s white away strip.
    The kit is inspired by Barca legend Johan Cruyff, who captained the team the last time the team donned a white away kit.
    The shirt features a classic white design with red and blue stripes on the cuffs which mimic the captain’s armband Cruyff wore in the late 70s.
    The club wrote on their website: “Barcelona introduces their second kit for the 2023/24 season, which has an innovative design that pays tribute to the man who developed Barca’s playing style, Johan Cruyff.”
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    The statement continues: “This isn’t the first time Barca has used the colour for their kits. Players like Alcántara, Samitier, César and Kubala, among others, already wore a white jersey between the 1920s and 1970s.
    “When it comes to Cruyff – who developed a new brand of playing style for FC Barcelona – he also wore white on several occasions, like on 1 March 1978 during a UEFA Cup game against Aston Villa, when he captained and led the team.”
    Barcelona have resisted the urge to go back to their white away kit origins over the years – so as not to anger fans that believe it to be the colour of Real Madrid.
    Instead they have favoured yellow, orange, grey and blue away kits in recent seasons.
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    Barcelona announced the new kit with a tongue in cheek video on Twitter that featured President Joan Laporta opening a cardboard box with “It’s just a box” written on it.
    Laporta has a surprised reaction when he pulls the shirt out of it which likely reflects what many supporters felt when the club unveiled a kit in the colour of their rivals.
    But social media reaction to the kit was generally positive.
    One fan tweeted a picture of Cruyff in the 70s kit with a number of love heart emojis as caption – clearly appreciating the throwback vibe of the kit.
    Another fan replied: “Love it.”
    A third fan replied “We wear white better” – in reference to rivals Real Madrid.
    Barcelona will be hoping the kit is a good luck charm as they look to retain the LaLiga title and also return to Champions League action in the 2023-24 season. More

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    Arsenal fans raging at ‘worst away kit in living memory’ and demand ‘refund from Adidas’ after official release video

    ARSENAL fans are far from happy with the club’s new away kit.Photos of the Gunners’ new fluorescent green and black strip were leaked on social media earlier this month and caused quite a stir among the Emirates faithful.
    Arsenal officially unveiled their new away kit on social mediaCredit: ADIDAS
    The Emirates faithful were far from happy with the fluorescent stripCredit: ADIDAS
    And fans were quick to express their discontent with the kit on social media after it was officially unveiled on the club’s Twitter account.
    One tweeted: “Can’t believe someone said yes, this is a good design.”
    Another said: “Announcement vid is fire but kit is shocking.”
    And another said: “Can you get a refund from Adidas? They really screwed up here.”
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    One remarked: “Awful kit. Worst we have had since Adidas took back over.”
    Another chimed in: “I think we should just give last year’s pink kit the game time it deserved and wear that this season.”
    One frustrated Gooner said: “Terrible kit. Whose idea was this?”
    And another said: “Cor dear. This is bloody awful.”
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    Gunners fans will have to fork out a whopping £80 to get their hands on the replica top.
    But they’ll have to part ways with an eye-watering £110 if they want to buy the authentic match day top.
    Arsenal will kick off their Premier League campaign on August 12 at home to Nottingham Forest.
    The North Londoners will likely debut their away top in their London derby with Crystal Palace on August 21. More

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    Leeds fans say ‘EFL days have truly returned’ as club unveils ‘in case of emergency break glass’ sponsor

    LEEDS fans think the “EFL days have truly returned” with the club unveiling their sleeve sponsor for next season.They were relegated to the Championship last season after three years in the Premier League.
    Leeds will be sponsored by Flamingo Land next seasonCredit: Leeds United FC
    The amusement park has rekindled it’s partnership with the clubCredit: Leeds United FC
    Leeds players had a great time there years agoCredit: Leeds United FC
    The EFL are allowing brands to be on the sleeve of kits for the first time this approaching campaign.
    And local amusement park Flamingo Land have taken the opportunity to be involved with the team again.
    Leeds’ academy was sponsored by them 13 years ago and during the season the players visited the attraction.
    The day out produced hilarious photos of manager Neil Warnock on a pretend motorbike, Sam Byram with a lemur on his shoulders and the squad on a rollercoaster.
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    Fans have reacted to news of Flamingo Land’s return with one saying: “Screams Championship.”
    Another added: “Leeds United are BACK, baby. We’ve reached peak EFL again.”
    More reacted: “The ‘in case of emergency break glass’ local commercial deal.”
    A fourth added: “I don’t think relegation had truly sunk in until I saw this.”
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    Others said: “To be fair supporting this club is a rollercoaster so makes perfect sense.”
    Fans also joked that the club should get a pink away kit in tribute to a flamingo’s colour.
    Leeds’ main shirt sponsor is boiler brand BOXT.
    And several players may not hang about to play in it with rumours suggesting that Wilfried Gnonto, Tyler Adams and Rodrigo will all leave the club this summer.
    Leeds fans have been left in hysterics at the newsCredit: Leeds United FC
    One fan called the sponsor “peak EFL”Credit: Leeds United FC More

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    Man Utd reveal ‘atrocious’ away shirt for new season as fans left saying ‘you cannot be serious’

    MANCHESTER UNITED’S “atrocious” new away kit has fans saying “you cannot be serious” after it was leaked online.A clip circulating on social media shows the change strip for the 2023/24 season on display in a shop.
    Manchester United’s leaked away shirt has been labelled ‘atrocious’ by fansCredit: Twitter @GlazerOutShirts
    The Adidas manufactured shirt is green with white stripes and red trim, a contrast to last season’s white away jersey.
    Sponsor TeamViewer is printed on the front of the kit, despite the club mutually ending their partnership in December.
    United have agreed with the German technology company that they can buy back the rights for their sponsorship once a new partner is found.
    The club crest is also printed on in all white, rather than the iconic red and gold.
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    Fans are less than impressed with the new shirt, with one commenting: “That’s not seriously their kit.”
    Another supporter added: “That shirt is atrocious.”
    A third commented: “Never taking that even for free. Worst kit ever.”
    Meanwhile, one more also wrote: “Absolutely horrendous.”
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    The leak comes after United’s new home kit was unveiled earlier this week.
    Local rapper Aitch had debuted the shirt at Glastonbury last weekend ahead of the club’s official announcement.
    The shirt is the club’s classic crimson red with a black trim and Lancashire rose pattern.
    Glazers Out protestors had disrupted the announcement with a demonstration outside the club’s Old Trafford megastore. More

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    Dundee United kit manufacturers involved in Twitter spat as fan calls them out over one crucial detail on new strip

    DUNDEE UNITED’S new kit launch went down a treat with supporters.But the company who made United’s kit have managed to score a rather spectacular own goal.
    Dundee United’s new home top has been well-received by fans
    But Erreà made a critical error when promoting the shirt
    Erreà, the Italian sportswear brand, signed a deal with the Tannadice outfit to produce their strips starting from this season.
    They unveiled their first offering today, with the home kit revealed on social media (though the release date remains TBC).
    While supporters wait to find out when they can get their hands on the new threads, they’ve been looking at as many images of it as possible.
    Erreà posted some of snaps of the jersey being modelled on Twitter, but didn’t quite get the reaction they were hoping for as they got one key detail mixed up.

    They wrote: “Introducing @dundeeunitedfc’s new home kit.
    “Orange, elegant, it pays tribute to the iconic club founded in 1909.
    “The jersey features a stylish pattern of the club’s rampant lion logo, with white and black details on the collar and sleeves.”
    One particular aspect of that description left United fans with the same complaint.
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    Plenty of Arabs quickly pointed out to Erreà that their club’s official colour is of course tangerine, not orange.
    One exclaimed: “Excuse me, ORANGE? No, we play in tangerine.”
    While another, offering a more positive perspective, said: “*Tangerine. Looks great!”
    But a response from Erreà to one reply stood out above all others, with the manufacturers getting on the defensive.
    A supported commented: “Should be tangerine. Not orange. At least get the colour right!
    “Plus, we didn’t start playing in tangerine till 1966. Not off to a good start with 2 important stats incorrect!”
    Erreà seemed to get the claws out for their comeback.
    The brand said: “Sorry for the two inaccuracies James, we will improve so that everything will be perfect next time thanks to your valuable advice.
    “Congratulations you are a big fan of your club. Do you even like the jersey or did we get that wrong too?”
    Talking about the kit on its own, punters seemed to be mostly in approval.
    One called it a “stunning kit” while another said it “genuinely looks class”.
    A Hearts fan even chimed in: “Furious at how nice a kit that is.”
    Others shared their excitement and the fact they couldn’t wait to get their hands on the top.
    But, many agreed that the shirt looked better without one key feature…
    The sponsor on the front.
    One said: “Not United’s fault; the same can be said for most kits and money is money, but… That looks absolutely SENSATIONAL with no sponsor.”
    Another commented: “Going to be heartbreaking watching them plaster sponsors all over this masterpiece.”
    “Looks unreal without the sponsor on it,” came a further reply, and many after it…
    United’s head of commercial and sponsorship, Elliot Shaw, said: “I am absolutely delighted how our maiden kit of the Errea era has turned out.
    “The design is stylish and contemporary, and I have no doubts that it will be a real hit with our supporters.
    “I am also thrilled to introduce Bartercard as our new front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2023/24 season.
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    “Bartercard have been a fantastic partner to work with, and it is great to see how our initial conversations last summer around partnering with the club have developed at such a pace that they are now Principal Partners. I would like to thank Chris and the team for the magnificent support that they have given to Dundee United.”
    Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More