O’Neills Sportswear Set to Appear in Next Season’s Champions League as Royale Union Saint-Gilloise Lead Belgian Top Flight

Sportswear brand O’Neills could be appearing in next season’s Champions League as Belgian top-flight leaders Royale Union Saint-Gilloise have announced that the Irish firm will be their new kit supplier for the next three seasons.

The announcement marks the first time O’Neills has partnered with an overseas top-flight club, and will soon take over from Nike to manufacture kits for the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams from next season onwards.

Union Saint-Gilloise, currently sitting atop the Jupiler League with two points clear of Club Brugge and six games remaining in the season, announced the partnership on their official website. The Belgian club also has a Belgian Cup final against Anderlecht to look forward to.

Belgium currently has two Champions League spots, with the league winners qualifying automatically for the league phase and the runners-up entering the play-offs. Union Saint-Gilloise’s strong league position makes their potential Champions League participation highly likely for the 2025/26 season.

O’Neills, founded in 1918 on Capel Street in Dublin, began as a producer of Gaelic footballs and sliotars. Their first move into association football came in 1981 when they manufactured the Ireland jersey during the Eoin Hand era. The company has since supplied kits to various Irish, Northern Irish and English clubs, while most recently producing the DR Congo national team jersey.

The partnership represents O’Neills’ first overseas collaboration with a top-flight football club. A statement from Union Saint-Gilloise confirmed the deal includes an option for a further season beyond the initial three-year term, with the shared goal of promoting the quality of the brand and supporting local football clubs.

The kit launch was accompanied by a video release showing the new designs, marking a significant milestone in O’Neills’ expansion beyond their traditional Gaelic games and Irish football roots into European association football.

As Union Saint-Gilloise prepares for potential Champions League football next season, the visibility of O’Neills kits on the European stage would represent a historic moment for the Irish sportswear manufacturer in its over century-long history.