How to Invest in Signed Sports Memorabilia

It’s probably no surprise that Manchester United came out on top when it came to internet searches for its football shirts in a recent online survey. The iconic red and white shirts are worn as fashion items the world over, from their native city to South America, The Far East and Australia, such is the power of their fanbase. It doesn’t stop there, however. The interest in signed Manchester United shirts is at an all-time high, riding a wave of ballooning interest in sports memorabilia, that has been percolating since the World Cup in 1966. From signed shirts to football boots and autographed photos, there appears to be an insatiable appetite, with values soaring and the biggest stars setting up signing sessions to capitalise on the craze. It’s a bubble that doesn’t appear to be deflating any time soon and extends to every sport from any era.

The highest prices of course are reserved for those hallowed items from the past. Match worn shirts of yesteryear can sell for incredible sums, as can England caps from the early days of football. A couple turned up on Antiques Roadshow late last year. They were presented by the family of the late Leeds United and England football player Eric Stephenson, who won them for playing against Ireland and Scotland during his footballing career, which lasted from 1935 to 1941. Antique expert Raj Bisram valued the caps at £1200-1500, an enormous sum considering Stephenson earned just £12 a week during his footballing career, which was tragically cut short when he was killed in action in September 1944.

Modern items can also go for crazy price too. Take the infamous ‘invisible’ grey shirt worn by Eric Cantona during the 1995/96 season which went for £12,000, a price dwarfed by the most expensive shirt ever sold. Worldwide auction records were smashed when Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ sold for a whopping £7.1m ($9m) at Sotheby’s in April 2020! The Argentinian superstar wore the shirt during the World Cup semi-final with England in 1986. Talking about the goal afterwards Maradona is reported to have said, “that it had been scored “a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the hand of God.”. Straight after the game Maradona swapped shirts with Steve Hodge, the England midfielder. He loaned it to the England’s National Football Museum in Manchester before sending it off to Sotheby’s for auction.

Signed football shirts can be bought for many reasons. Some end up in charity auctions, being sold off to the highest bidder, and generally not the way to buy at the best prices. Many are bought as gifts for loved ones, but of course the main reason people buy is because they are ardent fans of the sport, team, or player. Take some of the items above, showcasing some of the most collectible pieces available today, courtesy of online memorabilia store Firma Stella: left to right: A signed England Lionesses shirt from their 2022 victory in the Women’s Euros 2022, an original George Best signed Manchester United number 11 shirt. A framed Lionel Messi shirt from his time at Barcelona, a signed Jack Grealish Manchester City shirt, and finally one of the most collectible players in the world today, a signed Cristiano Ronaldo number 7 shirt.

What is the best way to follow the trend? We asked Peter Johnson, head honcho at Firma Stella. “Buy something that means something to you. If you are a Manchester United fan then of course you are going to want to buy your favourite player. It  doesn’t have to be the most expensive shirt, It can be a signed photo, a boot or ball, something that connects you with the player, the team, or that sporting moment. It’s special knowing that you own a player’s actual autograph on a piece that‘s been touched by them. Just like a piece of fine art, you want to enjoy owning it, looking at it, especially if you’re going to put it on display.”.