Man United launch new Busby Babes-inspired package forward of subsequent season

Manchester United have launched their new home kit ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League season.

The Red Devils are looking to bounce back from their worst-ever Premier League finish last season as they enter their first full campaign under the leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe opted to give manager Erik ten Hag a chance to put things right as he opted not to swap managers, with the Dutchman set to lead the club into another year of their rebuild.

They will do so in a new strip, which, in collaberation with adidas, is said to have taken design cues from classic shirts worn by the Busby Babes.

It was revealed on Monday morning, with new materials used to help players see each other better on the pitch, though, of course, dons their traditional red.

Manchester United have launched their new home hit ahead of the Premier League season

The strip is designed to appear in different shades of red depending on where fans are sat

The design, according to adidas, takes inspiration from the reflective stipes used by the Busby Babes between 1952 and 1957

According to adidas, the design takes inspiration from the reflective strips under wore as the Busby Babes between 1952 and 1957.

It features as gradient of light to dark red running down the shirt, included to help visibility under floodlights during night games while wearing the strip.

A flame-like red insert also runs down the side panel of the shirt and shorts.

The three strips of adidas also runs down the side of the shoulders, with the brand logo, as well as shirt sponsors Snapdragon, appearing in white.

It also includes black socks, with a number of United stars appearing in launch photos shared by the club.

The likes of Lisandro Martinez and club captain Bruno Fernandes – who appears with a captain’s armband despite his future being in doubt – can be seen in the launch video on the club’s X account, with Gabby George also included.

Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho, Leah Galton, Scott McTominay and Kobbie Mainoo are also seen involved in promotional photos. 

The likes of Lisandro Martinez (pictured), Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes appeared in promotional photos

Fernandes is seen wearing the captain’s armband despite concerns over his future at the club

Three adidas stripes run down the side of the shirt, with the logo and sponsor shown in white

United have chosen to keep faith with manager Erik ten Hag going into the new campaign

Sam Handy, SVP of Product and Design at adidas said: ‘The colour red is consistently fundamental to the club’s DNA. There have been many different expressions of it over the years and, for 24-25, we wanted to do something a bit different.

‘We’ve drawn inspiration from shirts that Manchester United experimented with from 1952-57 as floodlights were introduced to stadiums. These were fantastic early examples of creative design in matchwear and were worn by some of the club’s most legendary players.  

‘The colour-shifting appearance of these was a big influence in this season’s modern expression of the home kit, designed to capture attention from all angles on pitch.’