Five questions to ask before you buy a signed football shirt

A signed shirt can be a lifelong keepsake or an expensive disappointment.

The difference usually comes down to a handful of questions, and it is far easier to ask them before you pay than after.

Whether you are buying for yourself or as a present, these five will keep you on the right track.

1. Who signed it, and what do they mean to you?

The best purchases are personal.

A signature from the player who scored your favourite goal will always outlast one chosen because it looked like a bargain.

Decide who matters to you first, then shop around that name.

It also helps to think about the story you want the shirt to tell, whether that is a title-winning season, a farewell appearance or the era you grew up in.

2. Can the shirt be matched to its paperwork?

This is the question that protects you. A certificate on its own proves very little.

What you want is a way to link the certificate to the exact item in your hands.

Some specialists put a numbered hologram on the certificate and a matching one on the shirt, so the two can be checked against each other.

If a seller cannot explain how their paperwork ties to the product, walk away.

It is also worth asking how the signing took place, because a seller who can describe it clearly is usually a seller who can be trusted.

3. Does the season suit the player?

A shirt from a campaign the player is remembered for carries a story.

A legend signed on a kit from a year he barely featured is a missed opportunity.

It takes a minute to check and it can change both the appeal and the value of the piece.

Club shirts change every season, so look at the badge, the sponsor and the kit design and ask whether they match the moment you want to remember.

4. How will you look after it?

Sunlight fades ink, and a shirt left folded can crease permanently.

Decide before buying whether it will be framed, and where it will hang. Keep it away from windows, radiators and damp walls.

Glass that filters ultraviolet light is a sensible extra if the room gets a lot of sun, and a frame that holds the shirt flat will protect the fabric as well as the signature.

5. Is the price telling you something?

Prices vary hugely with the player, the era and the rarity.

Shirts signed by modern stars and all-time greats cost more than those signed by squad players, and a fully signed team shirt will usually cost more than a single signature.

If a major name is priced far below similar items elsewhere, ask why. A fair price paired with clear proof is a better sign than a bargain with no explanation.

If you want to see what is available once you have your answers, Firma Stella lists a wide range of signed football shirts across the Premier League and beyond.

Buy slowly and buy something you will still enjoy looking at in ten years.