Aston Villa have announced that Italian sportswear brand Kappa will take over from Luke 1977 as the club’s principle partner and kit supplier.

Since 2017, Villa have partnered Fanatics and that partnership will continue to run, while Kappa will have most of their input in the design phase of the project. The sportswear brand will design kits for all of the Birmingham-based club’s teams, including youth and women’s sides, while next year could see them take to the field in the Premier League if they win the Championship Playoff Final next Monday against Derby County.

We are delighted to announce @Kappa_UK as our Principal Partner. ????

Full story ???? https://t.co/XNKjte618w#PartOfThePride #AVFC pic.twitter.com/GHpaOLpvan

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 20, 2019

The structure of the partnership, whereby Fanatics takes ownership of kit production and Kappa put their logos on the shirt is new to English football and more akin to an American model seen in the likes of the NFL.

Aston Villa Chief Commercial Officer Nicola Ibbetson told the club’s official website: “I am delighted that Aston Villa have partnered with such a recognisable and iconic brand who have a long-standing reputation for delivering quality, eye-catching performance sportswear.

“At the forefront of our decision was the key requirement to find a partner that would put design at the heart of the process and do justice to our famous claret and blue colours.

“In addition to collaborating with some of the leading experts in the field of technical sports kit and fashion, we are currently working with Kappa and Fanatics to ensure that all Aston Villa supporters are catered for with a wide range of replica kit and merchandise.”