Another Circle? Middlesbrough Join Football's Badge Revolution – But Is It Getting Boring?

Another Circle? Middlesbrough Join Football's Badge Revolution – But Is It Getting Boring?

The football badge is a staple of a club's identity. It is the facet by which we recognise a team and is synonymous with the historical interior of each organisation.

Many badges hold weight far beyond just a crest on a shirt. They are part of a club's reputation and character, and each is unique.

But in the modern day, the diversification and distinctiveness of these crests is wearing incredibly thin. Every week there is a new club at the fore who have 'updated' their badge, but instead of holding on to identity and pitching to stand out, clubs are actively trying to fit in.

Yesterday, yet another club joined the modernised, corporate-favouring revolution of changing their badge, in my opinion, for the worse.

That club was Middlesbrough, just the latest example of the new phenomenon which I like to call 'the attack of the circles'.

And yes, that may just sound like the creative director for Star Wars has run out of ideas, but it is a movement which is continuing to grow through our sport.

The question is why have Middlesbrough and so many other clubs joined the trend, and is it getting boring?

Middlesbrough's Swap to Circle

Boro yesterday uncovered their new badge that will be used permanently from the 26/27 season, including a gold version which will be used next year to commemorate the change. Fancy.

It includes a circle shape with the Middlesbrough name arched around the outside, the founding year, and the well-known rampant lion in the centre.

BREAKING 🚨 Middlesbrough Football Club have revealed their new badge... thoughts? 🤔💭#Boro | #UTB | #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/iDOGrNd8Ug

— BBC Sport Tees (@BBCTeesSport) October 16, 2025

I wonder if there are any other clubs that come to mind when that design is mentioned? cough cough Chelsea, Rangers, Villa (when they tried to change)… I could go on.

As you'd expect, though, Boro were quick to jump to the defence of their new crest, with a post detailing all the little tributes and homages included, uploaded soon after the announcement.

But let's be honest here, if the explanation takes longer than the actual design took to make (because the details aren't obvious enough for anybody to see), you've definitely done something wrong.

It is worth noting that, in theory, this is a return to a previous badge for Middlesbrough, as they did employ a circle shape with similar details back in 2007.

But with the timing being suspiciously similar to that of every other club transitioning to copy-and-paste-type badges, I don't buy the idea that they are reconnecting with their history.

Why Do Clubs Do It?

The shift toward simpler, more standardised designs isn't without reasons, despite how pointless it may first appear.

With revenue streams growing, clubs are constantly trying to find ways to cut down on their costs and maximise their incomings, especially with how much competition there is for the money of consumers.

Why’s every club moving to a circle badge! They look shite https://t.co/3CmSQJ5org

— Robert Gibson (@Rob_Gibson_) October 16, 2025

And with that, there has been this shift toward simpler, less detailed designs, as they are easier to plaster across merchandise, export to a worldwide fanbase, and be used on broadcast shows across the world, alongside reducing printing costs.

Every club that has adopted this style of badge after transitioning has coupled it with a monologue about how they have taken the fans' views into account, really taking care to keep the identity and historic value of the club in mind.

But if we are being honest, we all know that is just a smokescreen to keep us fans on side, and the changes are really rooted in ulterior motives.

And even if you disagree with that statement, take one look at the very poor attempts to include tributes, like that of the font on Middlesbrough's new badge, which is apparently inspired by industrial heritage… What a reach that is, and it's clear to see there isn't really much depth to the designs.

It Really Is Getting Boring Now

The allure of being a football fan was that your club is unique to you. Each set of supporters has a set of values they follow, and pride themselves on the identity that following their beloved club provides.

But with the standardisation of badges across world football, a little bit of that shine is being taken away. Being a fan of your club is becoming less unique and special by the day, not just because of the badges, because that is just the latest gimmick dulling the beautiful game, but there is no doubt an unhealthy precedent is being set.

Circle badges…

Corporate? Boring? How do you feel about more sides changing their traditional club badges to circular designs?! ⭕️👇 pic.twitter.com/1kETxoa7Hn

— The92Bible (@The92Bible) June 12, 2023

And it isn't even just that. Let's take out the football and think about clubs as a brand for a minute, as it is one of the major reasons for this shift in culture.

Why on earth any brand would want to have one of their most significant identifiers so similar to the very organisations they are trying to compete with is beyond me. In many ways, it appears quite thick on the part of the higher-ups.

And yes, we can look at the reduction in printing costs, something which even my club, Newcastle United, has cited as a big reason for the proposed badge change… But does an extra 50p for each badge really affect them that much?

Sounds more like something a student should be worried about than an entity worth hundreds of millions, if not billions, of pounds.

It is yet to be seen whether Boro's badge change will stay; we all remember the Aston Villa fans' uproar which eventually led to the change being reverted, but considering it seems the club have convinced themselves that they are honouring tradition – I think it's pretty much a foregone conclusion.

And what it shows is a continued disregard for the game's traditions, historic elements and uniqueness, which, if we are honest, is an approach that has been rearing its head in a multitude of ways for some time now.

At the rate we are going, it wouldn't be a shock to see clubs lose all identity in the near future. How long is it before we see neutral stadiums, clubs in standardised kits, and badges that are just fill-colour blobs next to a name?

Okay, okay. Maybe that's a little bit dramatic, but you see my point.

Football is not what it used to be, and the circular revolution is just another reminder of that.

The phrase 'utter woke nonsense' was created for a reason, you know. The game is well and truly going, and if we aren't careful, it will be almost unrecognisable (if it isn't already) before we know it.