Manchester United has once again top the shirts sale charts in 2016 after recruiting big name players in Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Henrik Mikhiratyan. The sales sky rocketed at the start of the 2016-17 season with over 40% increase compared to last year. Ibrahimovic and Pogba Jersey’s selling the most in England and worldwide in general. Only Real Madrid came close to United’s shirt sale numbers after Spanish giants saw a whooping 32% increase in shirt sales.
World of football has evolved so much in the recent decades with Football and money going hand to hand, massive kit contracts & sponsorship deals, clubs trying to exploit players name to get more shirt sales. we take a look at top 10 clubs who sold the most shirts in the recent season nearly concluded 2016-17 season.
Worlds Top 10 Players With Most Shirt Sales in 2016-17:
According to statistics from sports goods distributors like kitbag and sportsdirect Lionel Messi’s no.10 Barcelona jersey was the highest selling by any player closely followed by Cristiano Ronaldo’s no.7 Real Madrid shirt. Surprisingly enough United’s new summer signing Ibrahimovic and Pogba shirt sales surprised even United’s kit suppliers.
#1. Lionel Messi
Messi retains his spot at top of the popular charts as far as football replica shirt sales are concerned. However 2016 did saw 20% decrease compared to 2015-16 season.
#2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo jump to second in the shirt selling charts after his personalized replica shirts saw 108% increase after the Euro 2016. In 2015-16 season he finished 3rd in overall shirt sales revealed by kitbag.
#3. Paul Pogba
Manchester United’s new summer signing Paul Pogba absolute dominated shirt sales in the UK and his numbers are only better by Messi and Ronaldo worldwide. According to kitbag statistics, Pogba shirt sales has been constantly increasing since his move to United.
#4. Zlatain Ibrahimovic
795% increase in shirt sales as a result of his move to Manchester United got former PSG man from 12th place to 4th at the start of 2016-17 season. Increase was helped by the fact him making a superb start with United in August and September. However, October saw major decrease in shirt sales.
#5. Mesut Ozil
Ozil has enjoyed absolute class start to the new season and that is represented in the massive increase in his shirt sales compared to last season where his named replica kits sales were outside top 10.
#6. Neymar
Neymar who was second in the shirt sale rankings in 2014-15 season surprisingly drifted down, largely down to Premier League players getting more exposure. Adidas and United tried to lure Neymar away with 190 million GBP bid but player rejected the move.
#6. David De Gea
In last 7 to 8 years, De Gea is the only keeper to have make it in the Top 10 players list with highest shirt sales. Three times United player of the season, has made a major impact on United.
#7. Phillippe Coutinho
440% increase in shirt sales with Coutinho name over the last 12 months has put him in the top 10 shirt sellers list for the very first time in 2016. He has been Liverpool best kit seller in the past two years.
#8. Alexis Sanchez
After a superb first season with Arsenal resulting in huge demand of Sanchez shirt taking him to 6th in the shirt sellers list. Sanchez jersey saw decrease in popularity this season.
#8. Sergio Aguero
Aguero has been in and out of the top shirt sellers list but at the start of 2015-16 season his replica personalized kits sales registered a 60% increase. as he jumps back into the top 10 list.
Top shirt selling clubs: Manchester United has topped shirt sales in last decade with over 1.7 million official replica kits sold on average. This year they have broken their own record with 40% increase compared to last year. Below are the top 10 clubs with most shirt sales in the world.
Manchester United has consistently topped shirt sales in last 10 years and they have sold over 2.5 million shirts already in 2016 calendar year.
Manchester United broke their own record of highest number of shirts sold in a season (2016-15) according to official statement from Adidas. Manchester United official replica shirts recorded massive 40% increase than the usual pre-season sale records. New signings, Pogba and Ibrahimovic dominating the sales for United while FC Real Madrid winning champions league last year also helped increase their shirt sales by massive 32%. Taking United as exception, winning titles directly impact clubs popularity and shirts sales as the numbers below suggests.
| NO# | TEAM | 2016 SALES | BRAND | HIGHEST SELLER |
| 1 |  Manchester United |
2,850,000 (40% increase) |  |
Paul Pogba |
| 2 |  Real Madrid |
2,290,000 (32% increase) | |
C.Ronaldo |
| 3 |  Barcelona |
1,980,000 (11% increase) |  |
Lionel Messi |
| 4 |  Chelsea |
1,650,000 (39% increase) | |
Eden Hazard |
| 5 |  Bayern Munich |
1,500,000 (40% increase) | |
Robert Lewandowksi |
| 6 |  Arsenal |
1,125,000 (20% increase) |  |
Mesut Ozil |
| 7 |  Juvenuts |
850,000 | |
Gonzalo Higuain |
| 8 |  Liverpool |
805,000 | New Balance | Phillipe Coutinho |
| 9 |  PSG |
685,000 | |
Angel Di Maria |
| 10 |  AC Milan |
650,000 | |
Keisuke Honda |
| 11 |  Atletico Madrid |
500,000+ | |
Antoine Griezmann |
| 12 |  Leicester City |
350,000 | |
Jamie Vardy |
Players with most Shirt Sales in after Summer 2015:
When a club buy a big name player it can dramaticly increase the shirt sales, like for example James Rodriguez who singed for Real madrid in the summer of 2014 after stunning world cup and it is believed that Real madrid managed to recoup third of his transfer fee within few weeks through his shirt sales.
One of the biggest sports good distributer kitbag revealed the statistics about premier league clubs shirt sales in october January 2016, according to their numbers Anthony Martial’s move to United saw massive demand for his replica shirts and he topped the premier league shirt sale chart by Christmas.
Alexies Sanches of Arsenal was another big name signings in summer transfer window whos shirt was sold 13% of total premier league shirt sales.