London: Brighton & Hove Albion stepped onto the pitch in an unusual, all-blue home jersey for their Premier League encounter against Arsenal at the Amex Stadium on Saturday. The one-off kit was worn to mark the club's designated 125th anniversary match rather than as a standard kit clash response. Although Albion were originally founded on 24 June 1901, the venue selected the Arsenal fixture because it represented the home match closest to the anniversary of the club's first competitive fixture, a 6-2 FA Cup victory against Brighton Athletic on 21 September 1901.

Retro Design Inspired by 1901 Foundations

Crafted by sportswear manufacturer Nike, the special jersey pays direct homage to the uniform worn by Brighton during their inaugural 1901–02 Southern League campaign. The design moves away from the club's traditional blue-and-white vertical stripes in favour of a solid mountain-blue polo shirt. The Nike Swoosh and front sponsor American Express logos were applied in matching tonal blue to blend into the fabric, replicating the unbranded aesthetic of early 20th-century football shirts. The commemorative outfit was completed with cream shorts and a bespoke crest featuring a "125 YEARS" ribbon.

One-Off Appearance and Collector Release

The commemorative jersey was designated for a single competitive appearance during the fixture against the Gunners. The shirt was first introduced in May 2026 within a limited-edition box set of 1,901 pieces, celebrating the year of the club's inception. While the club later made the jersey available as a standalone item in the lead-up to the match, the rare visual departure provided a historic backdrop for supporters celebrating 125 years of Albion heritage on the pitch.