Whilst sponsors Three, Hyundai and other smaller names distanced themselves from the club after the UK Government's sanctions on Roman Abramovich, the kit provider Nike have appeared to stand firm with Chelsea, remaining committed to their 15-year kit deal signed in 2016.
That deal is reported to be worth £60m a season, which could go up to the eye-watering £900m mark by its conclusion. The harsh reality of Chelsea's situation is that the finances their sponsorship brings are vital for whatever criticisms fans have about Nike's approach to kit designs.
And particularly with the chance of American ownership around the corner, it would be a surprise to see that lucrative deal ripped up anytime soon as the club hopes to rebuild.
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But that uncertainty has not stopped fans from giving their views on the leaked kit designs for next season. A highly reliable source of kit leaks, Footy Headlines, has been sharing the early templates from the beginning of this season, leading to our first physical look at the 2022/23 Chelsea home shirt in the past few days.
The home shirt is a marked improvement on the 2021/22 addition. As Footy Headlines article describes, the "turquoise henley neckline" is the most notable difference. Gone are the puzzling mix of patterns crammed around yellow lines. A more sleek and simple blue is a welcome return.
The lining around the shoulders and collar feel reminiscent of the classic Adidas kits from the 2006/07 season that fans adored. However, the Three logo's future feels less certain given their recent call to suspend the partnership.
Sadly, Nike's insistence on adding wild touches to the home shirt where it does not need them slightly undermines this kit. The markings on the collar look like scribbles from a crayon from a distance. On further inspection, it can be made out to look like fragmented parts of the lion on the crest, in arguably light green, or if you're being cynical, Man City light blue.
Given Nike's general offering of kits, this appears one of the better ones that remains faithful to a more simplistic look which will probably gain wider praise than more divisive recent versions. Also helped by the gold badge claimed after winning the Club World Cup in February, the kit naturally improves.
Under the right owners, the hope will be that this kit can be worn during a successful season under Thomas Tuchel, as Chelsea hope to compete for the Premier League title and Champions League once more.
It is reported in the article that the new kit will be released in May 2022, which is consistent with last year's release, with the away and third additions coming out later in the summer.
