Chelsea are set for a unique kit reveal as they prepare to unveil their new shirts for the 2023/24 season.
Having not yet released the home and away jerseys despite announcing new signings in the past month and it now being over a month since the Premier League season ended, fan frustration continued to grow.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Chelsea will release their new tops on Monday but it will be without a main front of shirt sponsor. The Blues are yet to announce a new primary sponsor since their three year partnership with mobile phone communications giant Three ended on June 30.
Having been prepared to create a new allegiance since February, the club have hit a number of obstacles in trying to find a sponsor. Firstly they were denied the ability to partner with Paramount+ by the Premier League after concerns over broadcast rights. That left them somewhat stranded and so then entered talks with casino and gambling company, Stake.
Following reports of such talks, widespread backlash over the decision and a strong statement from the Chelsea Supporters' Trust, the club have taken a backwards step from the partnership. Premier League rules coming in from the end of the 2025 season mean that gambling related sponsors will not be allowed.
With the weeks counting down until June and now heading into the new season, the decision has been made to enter the kit to the market without a main sponsor appearing. It would be the only top division side not to have such a deal in place come launch day - though Serie A side Roma are in a similar position having just released their home kit with no sponsor.
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It is also reported that fans will now be able to pre-order the shirt in the lead up to the new season, whereas had they waited for a sponsor to be announced that would not be the case.
Chelsea travel to America for their pre-season tour next week and will be sporting their new kit in friendly matches across the country but with no kit announcement yet made, the club have cut it fine to make such a reveal. Last week they showed off their new, Trivago sponsored, training kit which is now available to buy.
The Blues had announced two extra partnerships in recent weeks with Oman Air and Hilton being confirmed as the official airline partner and official hotel partners respectively. The wait now goes on to see if a new sponsor will be agreed in the coming months ahead of the season, meanwhile fans are eager to find out if they will be able to purchase the shirt without a sponsor on it.
The club are said to still be in talks with other companies over becoming the primary sponsor.
