Boston, MA – July 1, 2025 – New Balance has unveiled the Bayer 04 Leverkusen Home Kit for the 2025/26 season, introducing a striking new look that celebrates the start of a milestone relationship between the global sportswear innovator and one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting clubs.
Progressive by design, the kit delivers a daring reinterpretation of Leverkusen’s iconic black and red colours. The familiar alternating stripes have a new look – a series of red lines composed of individual dots that fade seamlessly into a predominantly black base. The result is a modern and striking look that draws inspiration from the 30-foot-tall neon "Bayer-Kreuz" at the heart of the club’s hometown, standing as a proud symbol of Leverkusen and its vibrant football culture.
All kit elements—including the club crest, New Balance logo, and player names and numbers—are rendered in solid red, creating a unified and high-impact visual identity. The home kit is completed with black shorts and socks, providing a confident, contemporary silhouette for the Werkself's 2025/26 campaign.
“This is more than just a kit—it’s a statement of intent,” said Kenny McCallum, Senior Director New Balance Football Product. “As our first design with Bayer 04 Leverkusen, we wanted to capture the essence of the club and the energy of its supporters while pushing boundaries through its bold design. This jersey reflects our shared ambition and the start of an exciting new era.”
The kit launch marks the first official release since New Balance and Bayer 04 announced their multi-year sponsorship in February 2025. The agreement sees New Balance supply elite performance and lifestyle apparel to all the club’s teams—from the men’s and women’s first teams to youth development, e-sports and the club’s track & field athletes—alongside a series of multichannel campaigns and fan activations.
“We are more than excited to start the next chapter as a club with New Balance as our new kit supplier, says Markus Breglec, Bayer 04 Leverkusen Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer. “Our new home shirt is the symbol of this new beginning for us as a club, bringing together the design power and innovative craftsmanship of New Balance with the spirit of our club and the inspiration of our fans. We can’t wait to kick off the new season and see it on all the Werkself teams under the cross.”
The New Balance Bayer 04 Leverkusen Home Kit will be available to purchase from 1 July at 10am CEST at www.newbalance.com/football and selected retailers worldwide.
About New Balance Football
New Balance Football takes an original approach to designing and developing product, focusing on the unique needs of the player and the game. This is reflected in the quality of the sponsorships it has secured, including an enviable lineup of some of the world’s great football clubs including FC Porto, LOSC Lille, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Atalanta BC, as well as a roster of topflight players who excel at the highest level of the game. For more information about New Balance Football, visit www.newbalance.com/football. New Balance Football can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About New Balance
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA, has the following purpose: Independent since 1906, we empower people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. New Balance employs 10,000 associates around the globe, and in 2024 reported worldwide sales of $7.8 billion. New Balance owns five athletic footwear factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. New Balance MADE U.S. footwear contains a domestic value of 70% or more and makes up a limited portion of New Balance’s U.S. sales. To learn more about New Balance, please visit www.newbalance.com; for the latest press information visit http://newbalance.newsmarket.com.
About Bayer 04 Leverkusen
The UEFA Cup, today known as UEFA Europa League, was won in 1988 and the DFB Cup in 1993. In 2024, Bayer 04 won the German championship and DFB Cup, the national double, the German Supercup followed three months later. The Werkself has been a guest on the European soccer stage for decades. Reaching the Champions League final in 2002 and the Europa League final in 2024 were the club's greatest international successes after the UEFA Cup win 36 years before.
Media Contacts
UK: nick.richardson@ketchum.com
USA: Mary.Lawton@newbalance.com
GERMANY: dirk.mesch@bayer04.de
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