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Home shirts usually get the biggest fanfare and the launch-day queues, but away kits are where manufacturers tend to take the biggest risks. Without the same need to protect a club's traditional identity, designers can dig into the archives, draw inspiration from local history or try ideas that would never make it onto a home shirt.
This 2026-27 season is no different, with major brands revisiting iconic designs from the 1980s and 90s, taking inspiration from their clubs' cities and bringing back classic details such as pinstripes.
With the new season now upon us, Football Ground Guide ranks the seven best Premier League away kits for the 2026-27 campaign, from seventh to first.
7. Nottingham Forest — Adidas
Rating: 7.5/10
Nottingham Forest round off the list with a straightforward design that does not try too hard to make an impression.
The deep “Collegiate Green” base is paired with red shoulder stripes and a white Adidas Trefoil, creating a sharp contrast without straying too far from Forest's traditional identity. It is not the most adventurous shirt on the list, but sometimes a simple design works.
6. Everton — Castore
FGG rating: 7.5/10
Everton have taken a much quieter approach with their away shirt, drawing inspiration from the late 1950s.
A white base is accompanied by fine vertical pinstripes in royal blue and “Trinity Amber”, with a retro-style V-neck collar completing the look. The amber detailing also pays tribute to one of Everton's early change kits to feature the colour, which has since become a regular part of the club's away designs.
5. Manchester City — Puma
FGG rating: 8/10
Manchester City move away from their familiar sky blue with a black and yellow design that draws heavily on the city's industrial heritage.
The worker bee, which is one of Manchester's most recognisable symbols, features as a repeating pattern across the shirt, while the yellow detailing stands out against the dark base. It is a fairly simple concept, but the link to Manchester gives the shirt something beyond just a change of colours.
4. Manchester United — Adidas
FGG rating: 8/10
Manchester United have gone for a more restrained look with their away strip, taking inspiration from one of the club's iconic late-1980s away shirts.
The royal blue base is broken up by red detailing around the collar and cuffs, while a tonal wave pattern runs through the fabric. The design is a nod to the River Irwell and adds some detail without making the shirt look overly busy.
3. Aston Villa — Adidas
Rating: 8/10
Aston Villa's away kit has plenty of detail despite looking fairly simple at first glance. The black base carries a subtle pattern inspired by the club's Founding Lamp, gives the shirt a little more character.
The gold Trefoil logo and standalone lion crest add another touch, while flashes of claret, sky blue and yellow appear across the collar and sleeve cuffs. It is a different look from Villa's usual colours but still has clear links to the club.
2. Ipswich Town — Umbro
FGG rating: 8.5/10
Ipswich Town's away shirt is one of the cleaner designs in the Premier League this season, taking inspiration from the club's 1996-98 change kit.
Umbro has gone for a cream base with black and red horizontal pinstripes, while black cuffs and a black collar with red trim complete the look. There is plenty going on, but the colours sit well together and the lack of a complicated template keeps the shirt looking tidy.
1. Arsenal — Adidas
FGG rating: 9/10
Arsenal take top spot with a modern twist on one of the most recognisable kits in the club's history. Adidas has brought back the famous 1991 “bruised banana” geometric pattern, this time placing it against a dark navy base rather than the original bright yellow.
The darker background allows the angular yellow graphic to stand out, while the red trim around the Trefoil crew-neck collar adds another familiar Arsenal touch. It has the feel of the original without simply copying the old shirt.