Third kits of any team are always intriguing, because they inspire so many questions that piques people’s curiosity.
There is (most of the time) logic behind away kits – the premise being to make sure they’re essentially the opposite, or completely different to the home kit – especially in colour, though third kits sometimes leave fans feeling bemused.
Of course, there have actually been some really nice third kits over the years. Real Madrid have kept it simple for years, especially with the colours. They have their traditional white home kit, black away kit and blue third kit, which is easy on the eye.
The purpose of a third kit is to provide a creative and sometimes, experimental contrast between the home and away kits and, also comes in useful when both of these clash.
Some clubs often overcomplicate the design of their third kits, often by trying to be too clever – Ajax though, has generally kept things simple over the years. As such, we’ve reviewed some of the ones that have caught our attention over the years.
2004-05 Third Kit
Predominantly black, with a red and silver trim, this third kit is remembered fondly by Ajax fans as it is one of the rarer ones and more a striking non-white colour.
Manufactured by Adidas and sponsored by ABN AMRO, this was used by the club in cup matches and some European games during the 2004/05 season.
2021-22 Third Kit
This was unique in its own way, as it was inspired by Bob Marley and his famous song “Three Little Birds”. This was particularly popular and sold four times more than any previous Ajax shirt when launched.
Its colours were mainly associated to Rastafarian; mainly black, though with gold, red and green in the three Adidas stripes on its sleeves and cuffs.
2024-25 Third Kit
The base colour of this third kit was clear grey with darker accents, with the design featuring a geometric print which included three Saint Andrew’s crosses from the Amsterdam flag.
It was inspired by the Amsterdam School of Architecture, with the crosses appearing as neck detail, with subtle patterns both back and front.
2025-26 Third Kit
A tribute to Amsterdam’s 750 year anniversary, the colour was light beige and had maroon and navy detailing.
It was designed as a tribute to the oldest document that referenced Amsterdam (The Toll Privilege of 1275). It also included the old city seal in the collar.
Notable Trends For Ajax Third Kits
It has often been the case that Ajax has designed its third kits to commemorate a particular event in history and to celebrate local heritage.
As such, you will often see subtle designs of city symbols and architectural designs. It has tended to be the case that the reaction of fans is stronger when the club diverts from its original red and white colours, particularly if it has a meaningful story behind it – like with the Bob Marley third kit.