FC Barcelona will debut a new away kit inspired by the legacy of Kobe Bryant when they take the field against FC Seoul in South Korea on Thursday.
As reported by Pol Ballús and Eduardo Tansley of The Athletic, the La Liga champions have partnered with the Kobe Bryant brand—part of Nike—for the upcoming season’s secondary jersey.
This marks the first time the late NBA legend’s brand has collaborated with a football club.
The jersey features the Kobe Sheath logo in place of the traditional Nike Swoosh, positioned on the right chest of the shirt. The design incorporates a gold base with accents of Persian violet and black—colors synonymous with Bryant’s iconic Los Angeles Lakers uniform.
Barcelona describes the kit’s color scheme as “clear team gold with touches of Persian violet,” while the shorts come in black with additional violet detailing.
Adding to the symbolism, the shirt’s material includes a snakeskin-style texture, referencing Bryant’s “Black Mamba” nickname.
Bryant had a long-standing connection to Barcelona, both personally and professionally. He admired the club’s style of play and shared a close relationship with former stars like Lionel Messi and Pau Gasol.
Gasol, a fellow Spaniard and Bryant’s longtime Lakers teammate, often spoke of Bryant’s respect for the club and its basketball and football culture.
The kit represents a fusion of Bryant’s basketball heritage with Barcelona’s global football brand. It also underlines Nike’s expanding strategy for the Kobe line beyond basketball apparel.
Bryant originally signed with Nike in 2003, and after a brief hiatus, his estate and the company agreed to a long-term renewal in 2022. The sheath logo, inspired by samurai swords, was designed by Nike’s Eric Avar and has become a defining symbol of the Kobe brand.
U.S. college basketball programs such as Kentucky and USC have previously worn Kobe-branded gear, but this is the brand’s first collaboration with a football club.
