Revealed: Why Manchester United and Arsenal’s replica shirts have increased in price

Revealed: Why Manchester United and Arsenal’s replica shirts have increased in price

Mark Kinyanjui 19:30 - 02.07.2023

Replica jerseys released by Arsenal will now go from 12,180 shillings to 13,920 shillings. Here is why.

Arsenal and Manchester United are among the 10 Premier League clubs which have announced their replica shirt prices for next season have hiked prices by between nine and 14 per cent.

The two clubs have announced that their shirts have gone up from £70 to £80 (ksh 13,920) for 2023-24, a rise of 14 per cent.

Tottenham, alongside the two clubs which have raised their price by £5 (ksh 870)  will have the most expensive basic adult short-sleeved replica shirts.

If buyers want to add official Premier League badges, as well as a name and number, the cost will rise to £100.(Ksh 17,400)

According to Dr Peter Rohlmann, a German sports marketing expert, the ‘basic’ cost of making a ‘typical’ £80  shirt is just £8 (ksh. 1392) per unit, or 10 percent of the sales price. That £8 includes the cost of materials and labour (usually in Asia) plus transportation.

The retailer of the shirt, which is often a club, typically pockets £26.40 (ksh 4,593)  from an £80 shirt, with the manufacturing brand taking £23.47 ( ksh 4,083).

VAT is £13.33 ( ksh 2319), with the club receiving £4.80 ( ‘licence fee’ per shirt, while £2.40 ( ksh 417)  per shirt is spent on marketing, and £1.60 ( ksh 278)  on local distribution.

These figures are illustrative and vary slightly depending on the contracts between the clubs and their manufacturers, who typically pay a lump sum on top to the clubs each year.

Clubs contacted by In The Money say their kit providers — including adidas, Nike and Puma — are responsible for setting the shirt prices.

Replica shirt prices have risen by £5 (ksh 870)  for next season at Manchester City to £75 ( ksh 13,050) , Liverpool to £74.95 (ksh 12,927), and Aston Villa and Newcastle to £70 (ksh 12,180),

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