New Wave of Football Kits Across Europe: Black, Mint, Pink

The new season is still a dot on the horizon, but the kit carousel is already in full spin. From Venlo to Copenhagen, from Troyes to Shrewsbury, clubs are using fresh designs to tell local stories, mark milestones and, in some cases, celebrate a hard-won return to the big stage.

VVV-Venlo: A Night-Time Tribute in Black and Mint

VVV-Venlo have completed their 2026-27 collection with an away shirt that feels more like city streetwear than traditional second strip. Crafted by Craft, the design leans into a sharp black-and-mint palette that continues the club’s tribute to Venlo itself.

The base is pure black, broken only by subtle tonal striping that gives the shirt depth without shouting for attention. Mint green cuts through the darkness: logos, sponsor branding and detailing all pop in the same cool shade, sitting against the club’s unmistakable yellow-and-black crest.

That clash of mint with the traditional crest could easily have jarred. Instead, it works. The old identity stands its ground, framed by a modern, almost minimalist colour story. It’s clean, it’s contemporary, and it’s clearly built to be worn off the pitch as much as on it.

Rochdale AFC: Soft Pink, Hard Statement

Rochdale AFC step back into the English Football League with a kit that refuses to blend into the background. Their 2026-27 away shirt, produced by O’Neills, arrives in soft pink – but there is nothing timid about it.

The body is a gentle pink tone, flanked by crisp white side panels that sharpen the silhouette. A white V-neck collar and matching sleeve cuffs carry black and pink trim, a small detail that gives the shirt a subtle retro snap.

The club crest, O’Neills logo and sponsor all switch to monochrome black, stripping away colour to let the base do the talking. The result is a throwback feel without looking dated, a nod to classic designs with just enough modern tailoring. For a club celebrating promotion and a return to the EFL, it feels like a deliberate statement: Rochdale are back, and they’re not hiding.

FC Copenhagen Women: Tradition in White, Edge in Black and Blue

In Denmark, FC Copenhagen Women step into 26-27 with a pair of Adidas designs that mirror the club’s growing profile. The home shirt stays faithful to tradition: a clean white base, the identity the club is built on.

Across that white canvas runs a streamlined Adidas graphic in blue and purple, the same visual language seen on the latest shirts for Köln, Yokohama F Marinos and others. It’s a modern template, but here it’s softened by the club’s classic colour scheme. The effect is familiar yet refreshed, as if the old home look has been run through a contemporary filter.

The away kit flips the script. Black takes over, interrupted by a bold blue sash that cuts diagonally across the shirt. It’s a strong, high-contrast look, the kind that stands out under floodlights and on television. Between the traditional white home and the assertive black-and-blue away, Copenhagen’s women’s side head into the new campaign with a clear visual identity on both fronts.

ESTAC Troyes: Sunset Shades and “Cat Alley”

In Troyes, Puma have gone deep into the city’s past for ESTAC’s 26-27 away shirt. This isn’t just a colour change; it’s a postcard from the old streets.

The jersey draws its inspiration from the Ruelle des Chats – Cat Alley – one of Troyes’ most distinctive historic landmarks. The colours are chosen to echo the tones of the city’s old building facades at sunset, when the light softens the timber and stone into warmer shades.

That concept gives the shirt an immediate sense of place. You’re not just looking at a football kit; you’re looking at Troyes in the evening, translated into fabric and print. For supporters, it’s a wearable piece of local heritage. For opponents, it’s a reminder that this club’s roots run through the city’s narrow, storied streets.

Shrewsbury Town: A River Runs Through It

Shrewsbury Town have added a striking third shirt to complete their 26-27 set, and it comes with a clear message: everything flows back to the River Severn.

Made by Oxen, the third jersey leans into the club’s geography. The design celebrates the Severn’s famous loop around the town, with a distinct graphic pattern on the sleeves tracing the river’s path. The club’s launch tagline, “In the Loop,” lands perfectly – it’s not just a slogan, it’s literally built into the shirt.

The new third kit joins a 140th Anniversary home shirt and a previously released away strip, rounding off a collection that looks carefully curated rather than hastily assembled. With the full set now available online and in the club store, Shrewsbury head into the League Two season with a complete wardrobe that ties history, locality and identity into every piece.

From mint accents in Venlo to sunset tones in Troyes and river lines in Shrewsbury, these releases show where the modern game is heading: kits as stories, not just uniforms. The question now is simple – which of these shirts will still be talked about long after the season’s final whistle?