Quick answer: a fan version jersey is a looser, everyday-fit shirt with printed badges; a player version is the slimmer, athletic-cut shirt the players wear on the pitch, with heat-pressed badges and performance fabric; a retro jersey reproduces an older season’s shirt and usually runs a size small; a kids jersey follows children’s sizing and is not simply a small adult shirt. If you are between sizes: go true to size for fan version, size up one for player version, and size up one (or two) for retro jerseys from the 1990s.

The four jersey types at a glance

 Fan VersionPlayer VersionRetro / VintageKids
Cut & fitRegular fit, straight body, roomy shouldersAthletic slim fit, tapered waist, raglan sleevesVaries by era — 1990s shirts are boxy but run small by modern standardsYouth proportions, shorter sleeves and hem
FabricEveryday breathable polyester (usually 140–160 g/m²)Lightweight performance knit (120–140 g/m²), often with mesh zonesOften heavier knit; older replicas used thicker polyesterSame fabric family as fan version
Badges & crestEmbroidered or printed crest, woven or printed league patchHeat-pressed crest and patches to save weightFlocked, embroidered or felt patches depending on the eraPrinted crest
Sizing behaviourTrue to sizeRuns about half a size to one size smallRuns one to two sizes small; 1990s XL ≈ modern LFollows age chart, not chest size
Best forMatch day, casual wear, giftingPlaying in, layering under, fitted lookCollecting, nostalgia outfitsKids aged roughly 4–14
Price band$–$$$$–$$$$$–$$$$

How to measure yourself before ordering

Lay a jersey that already fits you well flat on a table, face up. Measure across the chest from armpit seam to armpit seam, then from the top of the shoulder seam to the bottom hem. Compare with the chart below — our listed sizes are measured flat, so double the chest number for the full circumference.

  1. Chest: armpit seam to armpit seam, flat, then ×2 for full circumference.
  2. Length: highest point of the shoulder seam straight down to the hem.
  3. Sleeve: shoulder seam to the end of the cuff, along the outside of the sleeve.
  4. Leave 8–12 cm of ease over your actual body chest measurement for a comfortable fan-version fit; player version needs less ease (4–8 cm), retro shirts were designed with a boxy cut so ease is built in.

Adult size chart (measured flat)

SizeChest (flat, cm)Chest full (cm)Length (cm)Fits body chest (cm)Fits body chest (in)
S501006888–9434.5–37
M531067094–10037–39.5
L5611272100–10639.5–41.5
XL5911874106–11241.5–44
2XL6212476112–11844–46.5
3XL6513078118–12446.5–49

Measured on our fan-version shirts. Player versions of the same size are typically 1–2 cm narrower at the chest and 1 cm shorter. Retro shirts vary by season — always check the product page measurements for anything made before 2005.

Kids size chart

SizeAge (approx.)Chest full (cm)Length (cm)
161–2 y5838
182–3 y6241
203–4 y6644
224–5 y7047
246–7 y7450
268–9 y7853
2810–11 y8256
3012–13 y8659

Which one should you buy?

  • Buying to wear to matches or casually: fan version, true to size. If you plan to wear a hoodie underneath, go one size up.
  • Buying to actually play in: player version if you want the on-pitch feel and don’t mind the slim cut; fan version if you prefer comfort over looks.
  • Buying a 1990s or early-2000s retro shirt: check the flat measurements on the product page rather than trusting the label size. As a rule of thumb, order one size above your normal fan-version size.
  • Buying for a child: use the age column, but if the child is between sizes or tall for their age, size up — kids’ shirts have no stretch to grow into.
  • Between two sizes and undecided: for player version, size up; for fan version, stay.

Common questions

Is player version worth the extra money?

If you wear the shirt fitted or actually play in it, yes — the fabric is lighter and the cut is noticeably sharper. If you wear it loose over a t-shirt, the fan version will feel more comfortable and costs less.

Do retro jerseys shrink in the wash?

Modern polyester barely shrinks, but older-style thicker knits can lose 1–2 cm in a hot wash. Wash cold and hang dry; never tumble dry a flocked or felt-badge shirt.

Why do 1990s shirts run small if they look boxy?

Label sizing from that era followed different body standards — a 1990s size L was drafted for a smaller average chest than a modern L. The cut is boxy, but the absolute dimensions are smaller.

Are kids’ jerseys just smaller adult shirts?

No. Kids’ shirts use youth proportions — shorter sleeves relative to the body, wider neck openings and no athletic taper. Convert with the age chart above instead of downscaling adult sizes.

What if my jersey doesn’t fit?

Check the return policy page linked in the site footer — unworn shirts with tags attached can be returned within the stated window.