1. FC Köln and the world-renown sports brand, adidas will enter a new partnership starting from the 2026/27 season. The agreement with the firm from Herzogenaurach will cover all teams at FC, from the men to the women to the academy.
This new direction has been made possible thanks to a mutual agreement with current supplier, hummel. They agreed to an end of the current deal, which was scheduled to end in 2027. Instead, this will now take place at the close of the 2025/26 season. 1. FC Köln would like to thank hummel for the flexibility and the excellent cooperation thus far.
For 1. FC Köln, the partnership with adidas also means a return to the brand where the club was secured it’s biggest triumph. FC first linked up with adidas in the 1976-77 season. A year later, the kit with the three stripes bore witness to the unforgettable and historic Double win. From 1980 to 1985 and 2005 to 2008, adidas and FC continued to work together.
In the coming season, 1. FC Köln will continue to work alongside hummel and follow ambitious goals. FC fans can look forward to exciting designs and a special kit in the upcoming campaign.
Philipp Türoff, 1. FC Köln Managing Director, said: “We are really happy that we will have adidas by our side from 2026 onwards, as one of world’s leading sport brands. This partnership is an important strategical step for the development of 1. FC Köln and underlines our ambitions. At the same time, we want to give a huge thanks to hummel. Not only for their readiness to allow an early change of kit supplier but also for the trusting and successful work together. With hummel, we were able to bring out brilliant collections, which created huge excitement amongst our fans. The kit for Lukas Podolski’s testimonial broke sales records and our current away kit is the best-selling away strip of all-time. We are certain that the final year with hummel will be full of engagement and are looking forward to going about many great projects before we start our new chapter with adidas.”
Marina Moguš, Managing Director for adidas Central Europe, said: “In 1. FC Köln, we have been able to secure one of the most traditional clubs in Germany as a partner. The club has a huge fanbase and stands for incredible effort and passion. We are very proud of the new, long-term partnership and fits perfectly into our strong portfolio of Bundesliga partners. 1. FC Köln and adidas fit together perfectly.”
Lars Stentebjerg, hummel CEO, said: “Obviously we are sad, that our partnership with 1. FC Köln is coming to an end but we respect their decision to go a new path. Together, we have created something special. Iconic kits, strong identities and a deep connection to the fans. We are proud of all the moments and projects thus far. We are looking forward to a strong last season and have our fingers crossed for the final game of the season. FC will always be a valuable member of the hummel family, and we wish the club all the best for the next chapter.”