The Cream Rises: Burnley FC and JJ Watt Unveil the New 2026/27 Away Kit

Aug. 03, 2026

Burnley Football Club is proud to unveil its new 2026/27 away kit, a project nearly two years in the making and led from start to finish by club co-owner and NFL great JJ Watt.

Working closely with both the club and technical partner Castore through every stage of the creative process, Watt played a hands-on role in developing a shirt that celebrates Burnley's identity, heritage and supporters. From the choice of crest and colour palette to the finer design details, he led the project from concept to completion. The result is a striking cream shirt, paired with claret shorts and cream socks, inspired by the town, its history and the people who call it home.

At the heart of the design is a return of one of the club's most beloved crests, worn between 1979–83 and again from 1987–2009. Following countless conversations with supporters over the past two years, Watt was determined to bring back the iconic shield that holds a special place in the hearts of generations of Clarets fans. The crest has been thoughtfully reworked in a tonal palette to complement the away kit, retaining the character of the original while creating a look that feels both timeless and distinctly Burnley.

The shirt also features a bespoke pattern inspired by the distinctive stonework of Gawthorpe Hall, home to Burnley FC's training ground. The historic estate has been intertwined with the club for decades, with its medieval barn serving as the location for this season's player photoshoot. The barn itself holds a unique place in Burnley's history, having been used as the club's gymnasium during the 1950s when Gawthorpe formed part of what was one of the earliest dedicated training facilities in world football.

The attention to detail extends inside the neckline, where the shirt features a bespoke wordmark inspired by the typography found on Burnley matchday programmes from the 1960s and 70s. Another subtle nod to the club's rich history, the vintage lettering has been carefully reimagined for the modern era, ensuring even the smallest design details reflect the heritage and identity at the heart of the shirt. The finishing touch comes just beneath the rear collar, where an '1882' script celebrates the year of Burnley Football Club's foundation. 

Launching alongside the new kit is a cinematic campaign film that showcases the best of Burnley and the surrounding countryside and villages, starring JJ Watt in a playful nod to one of his NFL nicknames – "The Milkman". The film follows Watt as he drives a traditional milk float through the iconic Lancashire countryside and into Burnley, delivering "the cream" to the town. Along the way he visits Burnley supporters and famous faces including cricketing icon Sir Jimmy Anderson, Capital Radio DJ Jordan North, Bank of Dave founder Dave Fishwick and Burnley legend Stan Ternent, while also passing local landmarks including the Singing Ringing Tree and the Royal Dyche, whose landlady, Justine Lorriman, also appears in the film, before arriving at Turf Moor.

Supporters can also go behind the scenes with an exclusive Making Of documentary, charting the nearly two-year journey from the first sketches through to the final design, available on Clarets+ and YouTube now. The film offers an unprecedented look at Watt's involvement in bringing the shirt to life, showcasing the passion, collaboration and attention to detail behind one of the club's most personal kit launches to date.

Speaking about the new away kit, JJ Watt said:

"From day one, I didn't want this to be just another football shirt. I wanted to create something quintessentially Burnley. Every decision we made started with one question: are we doing the supporters of this club proud? As I’ve said many times before, this club existed long before I arrived and it will exist long after I’m gone. But during this time, my goal is to help honour its great past while also shepherding it to a brighter future. Bringing back this iconic crest was extremely important to me, mainly because of how much it means to our supporters, but also because I’m just a massive fan of it. This shirt belongs to the people of Burnley, and I hope they can see how much care and thought has gone into every single detail. I'm incredibly proud of what we've created together and I hope it will be worn with pride for many years to come.”

 

Speaking on the collaboration, Castore Co-Founder and CEO Tom Beahon said:

"In all my years working in elite sport, I've never known an owner become so immersed in the design process. JJ challenged every decision, listened intently to supporters and cared deeply about getting every detail right. Our team worked incredibly closely with him and Burnley over nearly two years, and we're proud to have brought his vision to life while delivering a kit that met the exacting brief JJ and the club set out from day one. It's a shirt that tells a genuine story about Burnley, and that's what makes it so special."

 

The 2026/27 Burnley FC away kit is available now online and in the Clarets Store from 9am on Saturday 1st August. The kit will be worn at Turf Moor for Sunday’s friendly game against Torino, which kicks off at 3pm.