Return to a Classic Roundel: EFL Championship's Middlesbrough Unveil Brand-New Crest

English Championship club Middlesbrough FC officially unveiled a brand-new club crest on October 16, 2025. This new crest, which returns to a classic roundel design, will be officially adopted for the 2026-27 season to coincide with the club's 150th anniversary. The update aims to honor the club's rich history with a timeless and modern design, heralding a new chapter.

Founded in 1876, Middlesbrough is a professional football club from the North-East of England with a deep heritage and a proud history. As a cornerstone of the local community, the club embodies the passion and memories of generations of supporters. To mark the upcoming 150th-anniversary milestone, the club has decided to undertake a significant brand identity refresh.

The most notable change in this crest update is the shift in its overall shape. The new design moves away from the shield-and-scroll design used since 2007, returning to the much-loved roundel shape that is immediately reminiscent of the classic crest used by the club between 1986 and 2007.

The new crest features a clean and bold red roundel, with the full name "MIDDLESBROUGH" and "FOOTBALL CLUB" clearly inscribed in white text within it. The club's founding year, "1876," is cleverly split and placed on either side, replacing the single number on the scroll of the previous version. At the heart of the crest, the iconic red Rampant Lion remains the visual centerpiece, identical in form to the previous version, symbolizing the club's enduring courage and strength. The entire design uses a pure red-and-white color palette, removing the black outlines and shadow details of the old crest, making it visually cleaner, more modern, and better suited for the demands of the digital media era.

According to the club's official statement, the new crest was developed following extensive consultation with supporters, former players, and partners. The core design philosophy was to create a "classic and timeless" crest that both evokes respect for the club's illustrious history and can lead it into the future.

• Heritage: The return to a roundel is a direct tribute to one of the most popular crests in the club's history, aimed at strengthening the emotional connection with the fanbase.
• Clarity & Modernity: The simplified red-and-white color scheme and clean typography ensure the crest has high visibility and recognition across all sizes and media, from shirt embroidery to mobile phone screens.
• Badge of Honour: The club hopes this new crest will become a "badge of honour" that both players and fans can wear with pride, clearly representing Middlesbrough's identity whether at the Riverside Stadium or on the road.

Middlesbrough FC's crest update strikes a perfect balance between respecting tradition and embracing the future. By returning to a beloved roundel design and giving it a modern interpretation, the club has not only created a powerful visual symbol for its 150th-anniversary celebrations but has also sent a clear message to the world: while cherishing its glorious past, Middlesbrough is confidently marching into its next 150 years.