The Chelsea Third jersey with the swoosh positioned vertically

While the season of the new Chelsea under Enzo Maresca has started with ups and downs - first a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City, followed by a resounding 6-2 victory against Wolverhampton - with the Home kit worn in both matches, today marks the much-anticipated launch of the Third kit. Designed by Nike, it’s the first of many kits to be unveiled by the brand, which has long been preparing to introduce a new version of its logo: the swoosh is positioned vertically rather than horizontally. This new feature will be applied to the kits of other clubs such as Inter, Barcelona, Tottenham, and Liverpool, representing a bold move that could prove to be very divisive.

Chelsea, in addition to reverting to their old crest, has opted for a pink and black color blocking, which is also a complete novelty in the Blues’ visual identity. Only the most observant would have noticed the resemblance to the same color scheme introduced by New Balance on AS Roma’s third kit in the 2022/2023 season. As noted on Chelsea's e-commerce site, the design of the jersey is inspired by the 1970s, a crucial era in shaping the punk rock aesthetic. It was the biggest aesthetic shake-up the city of London experienced, particularly in the urban area of West London. It was the boutique World's End that sparked the explosion of the punk aesthetic, and for this reason, the streets of the city often saw gatherings of music enthusiasts flaunting their aesthetic taste alongside Chelsea fans.

The new jersey is available on Nike's store and on Chelsea's official website.