According to L'Équipe, Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong has found a simple method to prevent signed jerseys from being resold: he asks fans for their names before signing. This allows him to personalize the jersey with the fan's name, making it harder to resell.
The resale of signed jerseys is a widespread practice in football. In Spain, dozens of fans often gather around training grounds hoping to obtain autographs from players. Once a jersey is signed, some individuals do not hesitate to sell it on specialized websites, emphasizing the authenticity of the signature. This practice allows memorabilia to be sold at prices far exceeding its original value.
This practice is not endorsed by all players, and De Jong is one of them. The Dutch midfielder is currently recovering from a knee injury. In a video posted on social media, De Jong is seen asking each fan for their name before signing to personalize the jersey and thus limit its resale potential. When one fan refused to provide their name, the Barcelona player declined to sign for them.