Real Sociedad 2015/16 Away (Small)

The Chinese writing across this shirt was more than just another sponsor logo.

Qbao.com had become Real Sociedad’s main sponsor in 2014 and by 2015 the relationship had grown into a much bigger attempt to build the club’s profile in China. The company also sponsored Rayo Vallecano, which created a pretty strange opportunity.

In July 2015, Qbao and La Liga’s World Challenge programme brought both Spanish clubs more than 10,000 kilometres from home to Nanjing. Their preseason meeting at the Wutaishan Sports Center became the first time two La Liga clubs had played each other in China.

The sponsor was even discussing helping finance part of Real Sociedad’s planned Anoeta redevelopment, with club president Jokin Aperribay saying Qbao could contribute around 20–25% of the project cost.

Adidas gave the shirt itself an unusual identity as well. Instead of the club’s normal blue-and-white look, the away kit combined two different shades of maroon with bright azure detailing, a combination contemporary reports described as a first for Real Sociedad.

There was still a Basque touch hidden on the back: an embroidered Ikurriña beneath the collar.

So this is one of those shirts where the sponsor actually gives you half the story: a Basque club, a Chinese tech company and a preseason match that took Real Sociedad all the way to Nanjing.