1. FC Köln to Reunite with adidas from 2026/27 Season After Early Exit Agreement with hummel.

Roger Hampel

Photo Credit: 1. FC Köln

1. FC Köln will return to wearing adidas kits beginning with the 2026/27 season, marking a new chapter in the club’s commercial and sporting identity. The decision follows a mutual agreement with current supplier hummel to conclude their partnership one year earlier than originally scheduled, enabling a seamless transition to the German sportswear giant. The new deal with adidas will cover all FC Köln teams, including the men's, women's, and academy squads.

Strategic Shift with Historic Significance 1. FC Köln adidas

The move marks a return to a familiar brand. adidas and FC Köln have a shared history stretching back nearly five decades. The club wore adidas kits during one of its most successful periods, including the historic Double win in 1977/78. The two parties last worked together from 2005 to 2008, making this upcoming deal not just a business decision, but a return to a partnership rooted in legacy.

While financial details of the new agreement were not disclosed, the decision is being positioned as part of the club’s long-term commercial strategy. 1. FC Köln adidas

Agreement with hummel Enables Transition

The shift to adidas has been made possible through a collaborative termination of the existing contract with hummel, which had originally been set to run until the end of the 2026/27 season. Instead, hummel will remain as technical partner through the 2025/26 campaign, allowing for one more year of joint marketing, merchandise, and kit launches.

During its time with hummel, FC Köln released several popular kits, including the record-breaking shirt designed for Lukas Podolski’s testimonial and the current away jersey, which has become the best-selling away kit in the club’s history.

This decision reflects a growing trend in football sponsorships, where clubs seek to align long-term identity-building with global merchandising reach — a key asset adidas is known to provide, particularly across Bundesliga and European markets.

Club and Brand Perspectives

From FC Köln’s perspective, the new adidas partnership represents an opportunity to align with a brand that offers international scale, technical excellence, and a proven connection with fans. According to club executives, the decision is both commercially and culturally strategic — reinforcing the club’s vision for the coming years.

From adidas' standpoint, adding FC Köln to its Bundesliga portfolio strengthens its presence in German top-flight football, joining clubs like Bayern Munich and Union Berlin. For hummel, the conclusion of the partnership was handled with professionalism, and the brand will continue to support FC Köln throughout their final season together.