Chelsea 2021/22 zigzag home kit leaked online

You know we're coming towards the end of the football season when next season's kits start leaking online.

It's becoming an annual ritual and, in all honesty, the leaks rarely miss the mark, giving supporters a decent barometer of what's to come and whether or not they should shell out on the new shirt when it's finally released in the summer.

Football kit and boot news site Footy Headlines are the gurus for such leaks, and they reckon they've accurately predicted the design for Chelsea's home strip for the 2021/22 campaign, based on a description.

Unfortunately for Blues supporters, it's likely to be another divisive one as Chelsea continue their journey with American sportswear behemoth Nike, who they signed with in 2017 following 11 trophy-laden years wearing adidas.

Nike have yet to hit the mark as the west Londoners' kit supplier, going very simple in 2017/18, reintroducing red dashes in 2018/19, opting for a far-too-chaotic look in 2019/20 and adding a darker shade of blue never before seen on a Chelsea shirt this time around.

Those finally hoping for a classic next season will be disappointed, however, with the avant-garde zigzag/checkerboard design certain to split opinion.

The strangest thing about the V-neck shirt is that the zigzagging lines - of varying degrees of thickness - disappear in the bottom right of the shirt to be replaced by a checkered square...weird. The club's latest shirt sponsor, mobile network Three, once again have their logo emblazoned across the midriff.

The main colour is described as 'Lyon Blue', while the trim, badge and Nike swoosh come in 'Opti Yellow'. Footy Headlines say the shirt will be accompanied by blue shorts and white socks, with flashes of yellow.

The yellow is likely a nod to the club's predicted away kit, which the website reckons will be yellow and black, while the leaked snippets of the third strip suggest it will be turquoise with a black graphic pattern and striking crimson trim.

Still want to get your hands on this season's kit? Head over to the Chelsea Megastore site where the adult shirt is on sale from £55.96.