With the football summer transfer window in full flow and soccer superstars frenetically switching teams before the new season kick-off, Chelsea Football Club have announced a new signing of an altogether more stylish kind: Dolce & Gabbana.
The Italian designer label has signed a new three-year deal with the current English Premiership champions to design all formal and casual wear - in the team's signature blue, natch - for the club's players, management team, coaches and staff.
For the players - think Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba - this will be a dark blue three-piece suit with matching shirts and ties plus black shoes and a belt, with a more relaxed outfit of jeans, poplin shirt, coat and black trainers for less formal appearances.
Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti will wear the same suit but with a light blue shirt and there will be pieces for female staff members at the club too, which will include black high heels and a matching trench coat.
What's more, the Italian design duo will also revamp the director's lounge at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium, plus the main reception area with blue furniture, oak floors and touches of silver.
But it's not the first time Dolce & Gabbana have worked with a glamorous football team. Last year, in their native Italy, the label created the casual outfits for AC Milan's summer tour. They also designed the suits for the Italian national team at the last two World Cups and have featured several players from that team in their mens' underwear campaigns.
Dolce & Gabbana said: "We are big football fans. For us it means healthy competition, intense passion and great discipline. Football players are style icons both on and off the pitch."
