After more than 70 years together, adidas has unveiled its farewell shirt for the German Football Association. Black, with gold detailing and symbolic touches throughout, it will be on the pitch sooner than expected.
adidas and the German national team have been partners since 1954. That era ends this year: from 1 January 2027, Nike takes over as the DFB's kit supplier.
But first, adidas has presented one final shirt: a farewell in black and gold.
The design of adidas' Germany farewell shirt
Gold pinstripes run down the black shirt. Each is made up of small diamonds that represent the more than 24,000 football clubs in Germany – the grassroots of the German game.
As on the current home and away shirts, a sign-off on the hem references the partnership's shared history since 1954.
adidas has yet to confirm a release date. The shirt is due to go on sale soon.
Germany's farewell shirt debuts against the Netherlands
On the pitch, things are moving even faster. Only recently, adidas had teased 3 November under the banner “One Last Jersey”. Now the farewell shirt makes its debut as early as 24 September, in the Nations League against the Netherlands in Amsterdam – Germany's first match under head coach Jürgen Klopp.
The plan for that game had been a different one. As recently as 17 September, the DFB had announced that Germany would line up in Amsterdam in the green away shirt from adidas' Bringback collection – a remake of the 1990 design.
The 1990 shirt and UEFA's regulations
To be worn in the Nations League, though, the retro shirt would have needed changes. On the 1990 design, the three adidas stripes run into the areas of the sleeves that UEFA regulations require to be kept clear for official competition badges. For a compliant match version, the stripes would therefore have needed to be shortened. The front would have needed adjusting too: UEFA's regulations require a player number there.
Amsterdam will not see a shirt from the shared past return to the pitch after all. Instead, Germany wear the shirt that marks the end of their partnership with adidas.
