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4 months ago
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The official match ball for the 2024-25 Premier League season has finally arrived, with designers Nike opting for a fluorescent green and purple pattern this time out.
The fifth edition of the Nike Flight ball was released today and it's a departure from last year's effort which saw a bold orange design with a black tick.
FA Cup winners Manchester United and Marco Silva's Fulham will be the first sides to try out the ball as they face off in this season's curtain raiser at Old Trafford on August 16.
It is set to be the 25th straight season that Nike has supplied the top-flight's match ball, having taken over from Mitre back in 2000.
The Premier League made the big announcement on Instagram, saying: 'Inspired by the past. Ready for the future.
The official match ball for the 2024-25 Premier League season (pictured) has finally arrived
It is set to be the 25th straight season that Nike has supplied the top-flight's match ball, having taken over from Mitre back in 2000
Erik Ten Hag pictured during training this month. The Dutch manager's Manchester United side will be the first team to use the new ball in their clash against Fulham on August 16
The fifth edition of the Nike Flight ball is a departure from last year's effort (pictured) which saw a bold orange design with a black tick
'Introducing the 2024/25 Premier League Flight Ball, available from now.'
The Friday night clash will mark the official unveiling of the ball as well as an insight into how Erik Ten Hag's Man United team will fare after a difficult 2023-24 season.
The Red Devils slumped to eighth position in the league table leading to uncertainty around the Dutch manager's future at the club.
But a 2-1 win in May's FA Cup final against bitter rivals Manchester City proved enough for the board to keep their faith in Ten Hag heading into the new season.
The opening match might give fans the chance to see new signing Leny Yoro for the first time after the 18-year-old's £52.2million move from Lille last week.
The French centre back impressed on his debut in a friendly against Rangers this weekend and Ten Hag has said he believes the youngster can become a regular in a new-look Man United side.
As for Fulham, the west London side will be looking to kick on from a solid 13th place finish last season.
Marco Silva is aiming to bolster his squad ahead of this campaign and reportedly lodged a bid for Man United's Scott McTominay last week.
Marco Silva's Fulham will hope to kick on from a 13th place finish last year (pictured: Rodrigo Muniz celebrates a goal in March)
The Man United side celebrate a second goal in the FA Cup final win against Manchester City
New signing Leny Yoro (right) pictured tussling with John Souttar of Rangers on Saturday
Fulham are aiming to bolster their squad ahead of this campaign and reportedly lodged a bid for Man United's Scott McTominay (pictured, on July 17) last week
After the opening clash, the remaining 18 clubs will then get the chance to test the colourful new ball out themselves over the course of the weekend.
Chelsea hosting Manchester City is the standout fixture, with that clash set to take place on Sunday, August 18, with last year's runners-up Arsenal getting their campaign underway at home to Wolves on the Saturday.
The weekend is rounded off by a Monday evening clash between newly-promoted Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
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