Aston Villa's plans for their 2026/27 home kit have become a significant talking point after being raised at the club's latest Fan Advisory Board meeting in December. The proposed design is reported to feature a major departure from a long-standing tradition.
The Proposed 'Bold Change'
According to reports from Footy Headlines, the new home shirt will be a 'bold change from tradition'. The most striking alteration is the expected removal of the iconic sky-blue sleeves, a design element synonymous with Villa's home strip for generations. Instead, the kit is said to be entirely claret.
This is not completely without precedent in the club's modern history. Since the year 2000, Villa have released home kits without the distinctive blue sleeves on only two occasions: in 2001 and again in 2018. The 2018 design, produced by LUKE 1977, is often praised by supporters and is considered one of the club's best contemporary kits.
Club Response and Heritage Assurance
The topic was formally addressed during the December Fan Advisory Board (FAB) gathering. In response to the discussion, the club moved to reassure supporters about its commitment to the team's visual identity.
The club stated: "The Club takes the integrity of our heritage assets extremely seriously and there is no intention to change our traditional home colours of claret and blue."
The statement clarified the design process, noting that input is taken from the ownership, football and business staff, and the kit manufacturer, adidas. It also highlighted the commercial success of recent kits, with record shirt sales last year and a strong start to the 2025/26 season.
Understanding Kit Design Flexibility
In their communication, the club drew a distinction between the home kit and other strips. They indicated that while the home colours are sacrosanct, there is natural flexibility for the away and third kits, a point they believe is understood by the FAB and the wider fanbase.
The dialogue between the club and its fans through the FAB demonstrates the importance placed on kit designs, which are powerful symbols of identity and tradition for supporters. The final design for the 2026/27 season will be eagerly anticipated to see how the reported changes are implemented.
