VfL Wolfsburg is a German sports club founded on 12 September 1945 in the city of Wolfsburg, originally under the name Verein für Leibesübungen Wolfsburg Volkswagenwerk. The club’s official colours are green and white, and its football department has been operated by VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH since 2001. The club is closely tied to Volkswagen, which is headquartered in the city and serves as its parent company. [1]
In May 2026, VfL Wolfsburg announced it was switching its logo with immediate effect, bringing back a modern version of the historic battlement crest, known in German as the Zinnenwappen. The decision was announced before the club’s match against FC Bayern Munich on 9 May 2026, and the crest appeared on the team’s kits for that fixture. The rollout across the club’s operations is gradual, with the previous round logo remaining on regular playing kits through the 2026/27 season due to production lead times. From the 2027/28 season, the battlement crest will appear regularly on official playing kit. [2]
Design and History
The battlement crest features a “W” styled with crenellations, evoking a castle or fortress. The club states that the battlements “create a sense of identity and embody tradition” and that the crest “has been a central element from the very beginning” of the club’s more than 80-year history. [2] The new emblem is described as a modern version of the historic crest, which was used on the club’s shirts from 1953 to 2002. [3]
The crest’s history includes several distinct phases. The battlement crest was used between 1953 and 1998, after which Wolfsburg adopted a roundel with the club name spelled out in full. That roundel lasted four years, until an ultra-modern “W” crest was introduced in 2002. [4]
The 2002 redesign was developed with the agency Gingco from Braunschweig. At the time, club manager Peter Pander said the logo needed to be revised as part of a new external presentation, and that the round form surrounding the “W” was opened to create a more dynamic component, described as “open at the top, like the entire development of Bundesliga football in Wolfsburg.” The redesign was framed as an evolution rather than a revolution, with existing elements retained but straightened and formally reduced. The strong green colour was described as a key recognition feature that would become the central visual signal of the club. [5]
The 2026 return to the battlement crest followed years of debate between fans and the club. Fan representative Marvin Minner said supporters had been campaigning for the return of the battlements for over 20 years, describing the crest as “the most defining element of our fan culture.” The decision came at the end of a months-long process involving representatives of VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH, VfL Wolfsburg e.V., the Supervisory Board, the fan scene and the city, supported by the design firms ATELIER SASSERATH x MUTABOR. [2] The process was described as a nine-month collaborative effort involving the club, the active fan scene, the city of Wolfsburg and main sponsor Volkswagen. [3]
Meaning and Symbolism
The battlement crest’s crenellated “W” is inspired by a castle, and the club states the battlements “stiften Identifikation und verkörpern Tradition,” meaning they foster identification and embody tradition. [6] The crest had strong visibility in the fan stands even while the round logo was official, appearing on flags and banners as a visual symbol of fan identity. [2]
Managing Director Michael Meeske said the emblem deliberately sends a signal for the community in the region and for shared responsibility, enabling “an impressive connection between past and future.” A design system was developed around the crest that combines defining stylistic elements from symbols, colours and typography, reflecting the close relationship between the Volkswagen plant, the city and the club. [2]
Typography and Design
Alongside the crest transition, VfL Wolfsburg adapted its typography and graphic elements. The new design system includes two house fonts. The first, called “VfL Fan,” is based on a font developed over the years for fan banners and choreographies, now newly cut. The second is a modified variant of the Volkswagen corporate typeface, reflecting the club’s close relationship with its main sponsor. [3]
The colour system uses two shades of green and white, derived directly from the flags of the fan scene. [3] The club also introduced a stylised wolf emblem as a secondary key visual, based on an old club crest, to be used in communication for the “Wolves.” [3]
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