The new pre-match jersey of Chelsea for Chinese New Year

Pre-match jerseys are now a must for teams looking to increase their merchandise sales without releasing an excessive number of game kits, and Chelsea has chosen the arrival of the Chinese New Year to launch a new lifestyle collection, including a jersey that the players will wear during warm-up. Designed by Chinese artist, but based in London, Jacky Tsai, the jersey is inspired by the snake, the animal of the upcoming Chinese New Year which will start on January 29th. Tsai's works integrate Eastern ideology and cultural symbols with icons and motifs from Western pop art, highlighting both the differences and similarities between cultures and challenging viewers to rethink intercultural relationships. Specifically, the relationship between London's Chelsea and China, celebrating the beginning of the new year.

Featuring an all-over scaled pattern in different shades of black and grey, Nike's pre-match jersey is adorned with a golden snake on the chest and shoulders. The team and sponsor logos are also in gold, while with closer attention, the lion from the crest and the Chelsea rose can also be found intertwined in the fabric. The kits have been hand-customized in the United Kingdom, with variations and irregularities that make each piece unique. The first game in which Chelsea players will celebrate the Year of the Snake with their new Nike pre-match attire is on January 25th - the Premier League match against Manchester City away - followed quickly by the London derby of the Women's Super League at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal.