Signed football shirts can be incredibly valuable, but their worth depends on multiple factors, including the player's legacy, availability, and demand. Whether you're looking to buy, sell, or invest in signed football shirts, understanding the pricing structure is key to making informed decisions.
Are Signed Football Shirts Valuable?
What Determines the Value of a Signed Football Shirt?
The value of a signed football shirt is influenced by several factors, including:
- Player Status & Legacy
- A player's reputation and historical impact significantly affect value.
- Major achievements such as World Cup wins, Ballon d’Or titles, and club success further enhance demand.
- How Player Signings Affect Signed Football Shirt Prices
- Players who have done multiple signing sessions tend to have more autographs available, keeping prices relatively stable.
- Players who rarely sign or have limited signing editions see higher price appreciation due to scarcity.
- Example: Pele was a prolific signer throughout his life, keeping his standard signed shirts within an affordable range. In contrast, Diego Maradona signed far fewer shirts, making his autographs rarer and more expensive.
- I personally conducted signing sessions with Pele and was involved in helping to organise and distribute the last ever signing session with Diego Maradona, giving me direct insight into the rarity and demand for their signatures.
- How a Player’s Passing Affects the Value of Signed Football Shirts
- When a player passes away, the supply of their authentic autographs is permanently limited, leading to a surge in demand.
- Pele vs. Maradona – Different Effects on Value
- Pele conducted many signings, so his prices increased slightly but remained stable after his passing.
- Maradona was a rare signer, so his death caused a sharp price increase, with some shirts doubling or tripling in value.
- Other examples: The passing of legends such as George Best, Carlos Alberto, and Bobby Charlton has resulted in a long-term appreciation in the value of their signed memorabilia. While this is a natural effect of rarity and legacy, it’s always unfortunate when increased demand—and in turn, value—stems from such circumstances. Having had the privilege to meet and get to know some of these players, I find it particularly sad to see their passing impact the market in this way. However, it is a fact that cannot be overlooked, as demand for their memorabilia inevitably rises when their signatures become finite.
- When a player passes away, the supply of their authentic autographs is permanently limited, leading to a surge in demand.
- Demand & Market Trends
- A player's popularity can increase due to documentaries, anniversaries, or major tournaments.
- For example, demand for Pele memorabilia surged after his Netflix documentary. I also witnessed first-hand how Messi’s 2022 FIFA World Cup win sent demand for his signed shirts through the roof. Working at a company that sold Messi autographs exclusively at the time, I saw demand and subsequently prices spike as collectors scrambled to own a piece of history.
- Retired players with cult followings often see steady demand, while current stars fluctuate depending on their performance.
- To see real-world examples, check out our current range of authentic signed football memorabilia and football shirts from legends and current stars.
- A player's popularity can increase due to documentaries, anniversaries, or major tournaments.
- (COA) & Provenance
- Framed vs. Unframed: Framed shirts with high-quality finish often command a higher price as it's an extra fee to pay on top of the unframed shirt as most fans and investors would like the shirt framed for presentation and keep the item in good condition.
- Match-Worn vs. Replica: Match-worn signed shirts hold significantly higher value than mass-produced replicas. Be cautious of unofficial replica shirts, as they are less valuable than officially licensed replicas produced and approved by the club or manufacturer.
- Framed vs. Unframed: Framed shirts with high-quality finish often command a higher price as it's an extra fee to pay on top of the unframed shirt as most fans and investors would like the shirt framed for presentation and keep the item in good condition.
- Condition & Presentation
- Framed vs. Unframed: Framed shirts with high-quality finish often command a higher price as it's an extra fee to pay on top of the unframed shirt as most fans and investors would like the shirt framed for presentation and keep the item in good condition.
- Match-Worn vs. Replica: Match-worn signed shirts hold significantly higher value than mass-produced replicas. Be cautious of unofficial replica shirts, as they are less valuable than officially licensed replicas produced and approved by the club or manufacturer.
- Framed vs. Unframed: Framed shirts with high-quality finish often command a higher price as it's an extra fee to pay on top of the unframed shirt as most fans and investors would like the shirt framed for presentation and keep the item in good condition.
- Certificate of Authenticity
- A COA from a trusted source is essential to proving where the item was sourced and linked with authenticity.
- Provenance (documented history of ownership) adds further credibility, especially for match-worn items that will need evidence.
- A COA from a trusted source is essential to proving where the item was sourced and linked with authenticity.
Signed Football Shirt Price Guide (By Player & Tier)
Each tier includes an approximate price range, example players, and key notes. Please note: Prices may fluctuate based on factors such as the specific shirt signed, inscriptions, newly completed signing sessions (affecting supply), and—for current players—recent form and accolades. Correct as of March 2025.
| Tier | Price Range (GBP) | Players | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match-Worn Tier | £6M+ | Lionel Messi (match-worn 2022 World Cup shirts), Diego Maradona (match-worn 1986 "Hand of God" shirt) | Match worn, historic shirts. Messi’s 6 shirts sold for £6.1M ($7.8M) at Sotheby’s, Dec 2023; Maradona’s sold for £7.1M ($9.3M), May 2022. |
| Elite Tier | £1,000 - £5,000 | Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maradona, Pele (special edition shirts) | Replica football shirts signed by the greatest footballers of all time—rare and highly sought after, commanding premium prices due to global demand and limited availability. |
| Tier 1 | £1000 - £2,000 | David Beckham, Kylian Mbappe | Global football icons with immense demand. Their signed football shirts command high value due to enduring popularity, career achievements, and limited availability. |
| Tier 2 | £900 - £1,000 | George Best, Zlatan Ibrahimovic | Iconic flair players with global followings, commanding top prices for their charisma and legacy. Best’s passing in 2005 enhances the scarcity of his signed shirts. |
| Tier 3 | £800 - £900 | Eusebio, Robert Lewandowski | Robert Lewandowski signature in low supply as limited signing sessions. Eusebio’s passing in 2014 adds a premium to his memorabilia. |
| Tier 4 | £700 - £800 | Bobby Charlton, Erling Haaland | Erling Haaland signatures are limited and in demand as currently high perfoming. Charlton’s passing in 2023 increases the value of his signed items. |
| Tier 5 | £600 - £700 | Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Baggio | World Cup winners with artistic legacies, highly sought after by collectors and reflected in value. |
| Tier 6 | £500 - £600 | Ronaldo (R9), Ronaldinho, | Brazilian flair at its finest, priced for their unforgettable skill and trophy hauls and universal appeal. Both have completed many signing sessions so reasonably supplied; otherwise, the price would be much higher. |
| Tier 7 | £400 - £500 | Thierry Henry, Alessandro Del Piero | Premier League and Serie A icons, valued for their elegance and popularity with fans. Both completed reasonable amout of autograph signing sessions so supply is keeping prices down. |
| Tier 8 | £300 - £400 | Carlos Alberto, Vinicius Jr. | A 1970 World Cup captain and one of the best current Real Madrid stars. Alberto’s passing in 2016 boosts the value of his signatures. |
| Tier 9 | £200 - £300 | Bruno Fernandes, Luka Modric, Andres Iniesta | Current stars and a Spanish maestro. Their signatures offer an excellent entry-level option for collectors, combining affordability with the prestige of Champions League and World Cup-winning legacies. |
| Tier 10 | £100 - £200 | Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Geoff Hurst | England’s modern heroes and a 1966 legend—strong supply from completed signing sessions keeps prices competitive, making them ideal entry-level pieces for any signed football shirt collection. |
Looking for a specific player’s shirt? Browse our full signed football shirts collection or explore memorabilia by football legends and teams.
Where to Buy Authentic Signed Football Shirts
Trusted Sellers of Signed Football Shirts
When it comes to high-value, match worn signed football shirts, two of the most prestigious auction houses in the world handle the biggest sales.
Sotheby’s – The Home of Record-Breaking Football Memorabilia
Sotheby’s is known for handling some of the most expensive and historically significant signed football shirts ever sold. Their auctions are where you’ll find one-of-a-kind, match-worn shirts from the biggest names in football history.
Notable sales:
- Diego Maradona’s 1986 "Hand of God" Argentina shirt – sold for £7.1 million ($9.3 million) in May 2022, making it the most expensive football shirt ever sold.
- Lionel Messi’s match-worn 2022 FIFA World Cup shirts – a set of six shirts, including the one worn in the final, sold for £6.1 million ($7.8 million) in December 2023.
Sotheby’s works closely with clubs, players, and private collectors to ensure that every item sold is 100% authentic, with rigorous provenance checks.
Christie’s – A Premier Auction House for Football History
Christie’s is another major name in the world of football memorabilia, often featuring signed shirts from private player collections and historic moments.
Notable sales:
- Bobby Moore’s 1966 World Cup final shirt – a true piece of English football history.
- George Best’s personal memorabilia collection – including signed shirts and match-used items from his legendary career.
While Christie’s doesn’t hold football memorabilia auctions as often as Sotheby’s, when they do, they focus on the rarest and most historically significant pieces.
Why We Set Up X Memorabilia – A Trusted Marketplace for Collectors
While Sotheby’s and Christie’s cater to the ultra-high-end market, we founded X Memorabilia to provide collectors and football fans with a trusted, accessible place to buy genuine signed football shirts—without the worry of fakes or inflated prices.
With over 15 years in the memorabilia industry, our team has worked with some of football’s biggest names, sourcing autographs and overseeing signing sessions with legends like Pele, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, and Sir Geoff Hurst.
We’ve also sold memorabilia worldwide for some of the largest brands in the market, experiencing first-hand the challenges buyers face—from authentication concerns to overpriced, low-quality items.
That’s why we created X Memorabilia—a secure memorabilia marketplace designed to give collectors total confidence when purchasing signed football shirts, ensuring every item is genuine, verified, and sourced from trusted suppliers.
Why Choose X Memorabilia?
- Every item is authenticated – Every signed football shirt comes with a trusted CertAuthentic.com™ Certificate of Authenticity (COA) with multiple layers of security including QR codes, online authentication and uniquely numbered holograms.
- Hand-signed memorabilia only – No printed or machine-signed autographs.
- Supplied by approved sellers – Only reliable, verified memorabilia suppliers we use our experience to hand pick suppliers to provide only the best authentic memorabilia.
- A secure and transparent platform – We prioritise quality and provenance, so collectors can buy with confidence.
If you're looking for authentic signed football shirts, shop with confidence at X Memorabilia—where every item is verified, hand-signed, and sourced from trusted suppliers.
You can also explore our broader football memorabilia collection to find signed boots, photos, and more.