How to Choose a Football Jersey You'll Actually Wear (or Frame)

Most disappointing shirt purchases come down to one of three things: the wrong cut, the wrong size, or a name printed with a typo you only spot when the parcel arrives. None of them has anything to do with the badge on the chest, and all of them are easy to avoid if you know what to check before you press "Add to cart".

This guide walks through the decisions in the order we'd make them ourselves: which shirt, which version, which size, and whether to put a name on the back. It's written around the jerseys we actually sell, so the measurements, printing rules and delivery times below are ours, not industry averages.

Start with the shirt, not the size

Every club and national team rotates through a handful of designs, and it helps to know what you're looking at:

• Home is the team's traditional colours. If you only buy one shirt a season, this is usually the one.
• Away exists so the two teams don't clash on the pitch, and it's often where designers take more risks with colour and pattern.
• Third (and now and then fourth) kits are extra alternatives. They tend to be the most divisive designs of the season, which is exactly why some fans love them.
• Goalkeeper shirts are a separate design for the keeper. Handy if you play in goal, or if you want something nobody else at five-a-side is wearing.
• Special editions sit outside the regular rotation: anniversary shirts, concept designs and one-off releases. Our special edition collection keeps them in one place.

Season labels matter too. A shirt marked 2026/27 belongs to the club season that runs from 2026 into 2027. National-team shirts are usually labelled by year, like the 2026 World Cup shirts. For this season's club kits, start with our 2026/27 collection; for national teams, go to World Cup 2026.

Player Edition or Fan Version?

This is the decision that most affects how the shirt feels, and it's the one people most often skip.

Player Edition jerseys have a slim, match-style cut, closer to the shape you see on the pitch. Our Player Edition product pages note that these shirts are primarily designed for display or framing rather than everyday wear, and they run small: if you're between sizes, go one size up.

Fan Version jerseys have a regular, relaxed fit made to be worn: at the match, in the pub, at five-a-side.

You can see the difference in our own size charts. In a size L, the Player Edition chart lists a chest of 50cm measured flat, while the Fan Version chart lists 54cm. Doubled to get the full circumference, that's 8cm more room around the body in the same letter size, and the Fan Version L is 2cm longer as well.

If you plan to wear the shirt every week, the Fan Version is the easier choice. If you want the match look, or you're buying something to frame, the Player Edition makes sense. We go into detail, with the full measurements side by side, in Player Edition vs Fan Version.

Getting the size right

Letter sizes don't mean the same thing across versions, so ignore the letter and look at the centimetres. Every jersey page on FashionOwn has a size chart with length, chest and sleeve measurements, plus the height and weight each size is meant for.

The most reliable method takes two minutes:

1. Take a shirt or T-shirt you already like the fit of.
2. Lay it flat and measure straight across the chest, armpit to armpit.
3. Compare that number with the chest column in the chart and pick the closest size.

A few rules of thumb from our own fit notes:

• Player Edition runs slim. If you're between sizes, size up. If you're buying to display, our fit guidance suggests going to XL or 2XL so the shirt fills the frame.
• Measurements are taken flat and can vary by 1–2cm between batches, so avoid a size that only just fits.
• Kids kits are sized by number and age rather than adult sizes. Our kids kit sizing guide explains how the numbers work.

Still torn between two sizes? Message us before ordering. It's quicker than sending a shirt back.

This season, or a classic?

New-season shirts are what most people buy, but a good retro shirt has a different pull. It belongs to a particular team, a particular run, sometimes a particular night. Our retro collection covers club and national-team designs from the late 1980s onwards, including long-sleeve versions and shirts from past World Cups.

Retro shirts here are new shirts made in past designs, not vintage match-worn items. If you're after a particular season, search for the club name and the year, or read our guide to retro jerseys.

Long sleeves, shorts and the rest of the kit

• Long-sleeve jerseys follow the same Player Edition and Fan Version logic as short sleeves, and Player Edition long-sleeves run slim in the same way.
• Football shorts are sized on the waist measurement and also run slim, so size up if you're between sizes.
• For colder days, our outerwear and training wear collections include windbreakers, tracksuits and training tops.

Adding a name and number

Most jerseys can be printed with a name of up to 12 characters and a number of up to two digits. You type them on the product page and see a preview before the shirt goes in your cart. Name and number printing is currently free.

Two things are worth a moment's thought. First, check the spelling twice: personalised shirts are made specifically for you, so they can't be returned. Second, decide whose name you want. A current player's name ties the shirt to that player's time at the club. Your own name, or no name at all, keeps it from dating. There's no right answer, but it's better decided before you pay than after a transfer window.

Quick picks for common situations

• A gift when you're not sure of the size: a Fan Version in their usual T-shirt size, without personalisation, so it can go back if it doesn't fit.
• Weekly five-a-side: a Fan Version, or a training shirt from our training wear range.
• Framing: a Player Edition in XL or 2XL, often with a name and number.
• Cold winter matches: a long-sleeve jersey under a windbreaker.
• A shirt that won't date: a retro design from a season you remember, or your own name instead of a player's.

Looking after a printed shirt

Printed names, numbers and heat-applied badges are the parts most likely to wear, and most of the damage happens in the wash. Our care guidance for jerseys:

• Machine wash cold (30°C) on a gentle cycle, inside out. Hand washing is kinder still.
• Wash with similar colours, and skip bleach and fabric softener.
• Hang it to dry. Tumble dryers are hard on prints and badges.
• If you need to iron it, don't iron directly over numbers, names or badges.

Delivery and returns, in short

Orders are processed within 1–3 business days, and most arrive within 7–14 business days, with tracking emailed when your order ships. Shipping is free on all US orders, and we currently ship within the United States.

For the return window and conditions, see our Refund Policy. The short version: unused items in their original condition can be sent back, and personalised items can't.

Selected jerseys to start with

A few current shirts from across the range, if you'd like a starting point:

Or browse everything in football jerseys and filter by team, size or price.

Frequently asked questions

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