Nike are already shaping up for the 2018/19 football season.

In amongst a long list of exciting drops including the Nigeria World Cup collection and the Mercurial Superfly 360, Nike have also revealed details about their latest match ball.

The Nike Merlin will provide optimal touch and control in all weather and pitch conditions thanks to the inclusion of ACC (All Conditions Control) technology into a football for the first time ever.

The Swoosh have created a larger striking surface across the ball by reducing the traditional 12-panel construction to just four panels. This also reduced the number of seams by 40 percent, eliminated hard spots, opened up the ball and created a more pronounced sweet spot.

The ball is constructed of a latex bladder (instead of a traditional rubber) to promote more consistent air pressure and keep its shape. Debossed grooves and 3D inks (these are engineered to dry at levels and locations that vary by millimeters) rise as they dry during the printing process further improve aerodynamics and the feel of the ball.

The Nike Merlin will be available from summer 2018 and will serve as the official match ball for the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A.