Manchester City unveil fan-designed AI third kit for 2026/27

Manchester City have unveiled their third kit for the 2026/27 season after a design created by one of the club’s supporters was selected through a global fan vote using artificial intelligence.

More than 180,000 kit designs were submitted by fans from over 200 countries through PUMA’s AI Creator platform. The designs attracted 1.7 million ratings before the 10 most popular concepts were shortlisted for a final vote.

The winning design has now become Manchester City’s official third kit, making it the first shirt in professional football to be created with AI by supporters and then selected as an official club kit.

The shirt uses a white base, with a two-tone sash running vertically down the centre. The sash combines sky blue and navy, while a subtle gradient effect gives the colours a changing appearance as the material catches the light.

The project was designed to give City supporters the opportunity to develop their own ideas, from contemporary interpretations of traditional football shirts to more unconventional designs.

PUMA launched its AI Creator platform in December 2024. The tool allows users to turn written prompts into football kit concepts within seconds, meaning fans can experiment with designs without any previous experience in kit design.

For Manchester City, the initiative produced a third kit designed by one of the club’s supporters and chosen by its worldwide fanbase. The process brought together fan submissions, public ratings and a final vote before the design was confirmed as an official shirt.

The kit announcement was accompanied by other football-related stories, including a feature titled “Did You Know: Jali left Oostende when Broos took over”. Another item highlighted Hope FC and its efforts to change the game in the NFD.

The AI Creator project represents a new approach to supporter involvement in football merchandise. Rather than simply choosing between designs produced by a club or manufacturer, fans were able to generate their own concepts and take part in the selection process.

With the winning design now adopted by Manchester City, the club’s 2026/27 third kit reflects both the traditional colours associated with the team and the experimental nature of the process that produced it.