Sporting Charleroi Moves to Eldera: Belgian Pro League Club Unveils New Kit Partnership
CHARLEROI, Belgium — Sporting Charleroi has officially announced a change in its technical apparel partner, moving away from Kipsta to sign a multi-year agreement with the French brand Eldera.
The announcement, made on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, marks the end of a three-season partnership with Kipsta, the Decathlon-owned brand that has outfitted the club since June 2023. With the current contract set to expire this June, the club has secured a new deal that will see Eldera provide the kits for the next five seasons, beginning in the summer of 2026.
A Strategic Shift to Eldera
Eldera, a French company founded in 2009, is stepping into the Belgian market through this partnership. While the brand may be less familiar to the general public, it has established a presence in French football, currently equipping historic clubs such as Sochaux and Nîmes, both of which are currently competing in the lower divisions of the French league system.
For Royal Charleroi Sporting Club, this move is a milestone in its commercial development. The club becomes the first professional team in Belgium to wear the French brand’s colors.
Mehdi Bayat, the club’s Managing Director, expressed confidence in the new collaboration via the club’s official website. “We are proud to initiate this collaboration with Eldera, a brand on the rise and resolutely focused on performance,” Bayat stated. He noted that the partnership represents a “new stage” in the growth of both the brand and the club.
Transitioning from Kipsta
The move follows a three-year cycle with Kipsta. Kit deals in professional football often serve as a balance between commercial revenue and the technical requirements of the athletes. By shifting to Eldera, Charleroi is opting for a brand that is positioning itself as a performance-driven alternative to the larger, mass-market athletic giants.
For the global reader, kit transitions in the Belgian Pro League often occur during the spring to allow for the design and production of new jerseys ahead of the summer transfer window and the start of the new campaign.
Club Profile: The Zebras of Hainaut
Based in the city of Charleroi within the province of Hainaut, the club is widely known by its nicknames, “Les Zèbres” (The Zebras) and “Les Carolos.” Founded on January 1, 1904, the club carries over 120 years of history, with its peak achievement being a runner-up finish in the 1968–69 season.
The club competes in the Belgian Pro League and plays its home matches at the Stade du Pays de Charleroi. The venue, which has a capacity of 15,000, gained international recognition during the UEFA Euro 2000, where it hosted three group stage matches, including a notable 1–0 victory for England over Germany.
Key Club Facts
- Founded: January 1, 1904
- League: Belgian Pro League
- Home Ground: Stade du Pays de Charleroi
- Managing Director: Mehdi Bayat
- Head Coach: Mario Kohnen
Looking Ahead
The transition to Eldera will be fully implemented by the start of the next season. Fans and observers can expect the unveiling of the new kit designs in the coming months as the club prepares for the 2026-27 campaign.
The next confirmed checkpoint for the club will be the conclusion of the current season in June, at which point the Kipsta agreement officially ends and the Eldera era begins.
Do you think the move to a smaller, performance-focused brand like Eldera is the right move for the Zebras? Let us understand in the comments.
