Sweatgate! Why Aston Villa are terminating Castore kit deal early - just like Newcastle did

Players in the men’s and women’s ranks have expressed concerns over the 2023-24 kits. Telegraph Sport claims that talks are taking place regarding an amicable split between team and supplier at the end of this season. For now, Castore have vowed to “address this issue as quickly as possible to meet the standards we expect” as criticism of their latest design for Villa rumbles on.

A solution is being worked on for the remainder of the current campaign, with it possible that changes could be made for the next round of fixtures – with Villa’s men’s team set to face Brighton on Saturday, while their women’s side are due to get their WSL campaign up and running against Manchester United on Sunday.

A Castore spokesperson has said: “There has been some media speculation about a potential issue in the football kit supplied by Castore to Aston Villa Football Club. We are working closely in collaboration with the club to address this issue as quickly as possible to meet the standards we expect. We would like to thank the club for their patience and support to date. As a proud new British brand, we always hold ourselves to the highest of standards and strive to do everything we can to constantly improve the performance of our products. This means addressing any customer concerns with promptness and humility.”

Villa players have complained of the 2023-24 jerseys feeling heavy and uncomfortable, as they become soaked in sweat and cling to the bodies of those having to wear them. Castore have recent history when it comes to seeing Premier League deals cut short, with Newcastle doing the same as they prepare to be reunited with adidas in 2024-25. Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris owns a stake in adidas, suggesting that they could also turn to the German sports manufacturing giants.