Chelsea releases its unique 2021/22 Nike home kit

Football kits are an art form. They split opinions, some obsess over them and others couldn’t care less. Chelsea has had some of the most divisive kits over the course of the last few years with the 2020/21 third kit coming to mind. Ever since the Blues switched from Adidas to Nike following the 2016/17 title-winning campaign, fans have asked for something more creative than the bland home and away kits the American sportswear company debuted during Antonio Conte’s second season.

While the threads over the last few years haven’t all been classics, Nike delivered on that request. On Thursday morning, Chelsea released its 2021/22 home kit. The kit has once again gotten mixed reviews, but the video that accompanied the official announcement is a timeless classic.

What does the new 2021/22 Chelsea home kit, made by Nike, look like?

The home kit is, of course, blue. Nike has done a lot to push boundaries over the last few years with its designs, but the iconic royal blue will never change—at least, we hope. The jersey also features hints of yellow throughout. This starts with the ever-present trim on the badge, bleeds to the Nike logo across the chest and appears most visibly on a design down the sides. The most subtle yellow addition can be seen on the neckline of the kit, where the letters “CFC” appear in the historic Chelsea complementary color. The Blues’ shirt sponsor, Three, sees its logo take center stage in its usual white, as well.

The design of the thread is one never before seen. Much like the 2019/20 home kit, this jersey features a pattern unique to Chelsea. It looks more like an optical illusion than a football shirt, but there’s nothing wrong with that. The design is inspired by the Op-Art movement from the 1960s that blossomed in London. The home kit features a wavy checkerboard pattern that abruptly bleeds into an asymmetrical zig-zag marking.

The jury is still out on the kit, but nobody is questioning the announcement video. It’s flawless.

The Blues and Nike Football demanded supporters’ attention with the Op-Art theme as inspiration. The video features prominent Chelsea players—specifically Pernille Harder, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who were all the stars of the short—sporting the threads and playing around with some groovy props. All of this happens while The Zombies’ “Time of the Season” plays over the graphics. The video, to say the least, is mesmerizing. The Blues have had some unique announcement videos in the past when it comes to unveiling kits or players, this one takes the cake though.

According to Footy Headlines, Chelsea’s 2021/22 kit collection will feature a yellow and black away kit. The Blues’ third kit is reportedly a dark teal and black jersey with a hyper crimson touch added on.

Chelsea will debut its home kits for the upcoming campaign on Saturday during the FA Cup final against Leicester City. The threads are available for purchase now online at the club’s megastore.