Lamine Yamal Bans Free Autographs: The Inside Story
Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal will no longer be giving out free autographs, according to exclusive reports from Mundo Deportivo in mid-October. The Spanish publication revealed that the Barça winger received an offer from a website specializing in selling sports memorabilia and clothing with star athletes’ signatures – and Yamal intends to accept.
The New Autograph Policy
As a result of this development, the footballer’s team has instructed him to stop distributing autographs for free – specifically to increase their market value. While Yamal will still pose for photographs with fans, signatures are now officially off the table.
The story quickly gained traction across global media outlets, sparking numerous reactions and discussions. Notably, no official comments have been released by Yamal’s representatives or FC Barcelona regarding this policy change.
The Truth About Yamal’s Autograph Deal
Existing Partnership with Icons
While Mundo Deportivo reported that Yamal had merely received an offer from an unnamed website, the reality is quite different. Lamine Yamal already has an established partnership with Icons – one of the market leaders in autograph sales. Interestingly, Lionel Messi also works with the same company.
How the Icons Process Works
The system is straightforward: Icons establishes contact with the player, arranges a meeting where the athlete signs a batch of jerseys and other merchandise at a table. The entire process is recorded on camera as proof of authenticity and included in the item description as verification. All materials feature watermarks to prevent other dealers from stealing the photos and selling counterfeit merchandise.
The Evolution of Icons
Icons launched in 1999 as a platform where top footballers could maintain blogs and share thoughts or news. Notably, Marc Overmars announced his transfer from Arsenal to Barcelona through the platform.
Since 2008, Icons has specialized in selling football merchandise with authentic autographs. Leveraging their connections and contacts, the company personally interacts with organizations and top players. They hold licenses to sell merchandise from FIFA, UEFA and all their tournaments, plus Barcelona, PSG, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
Financial Success
The exact amounts Icons pays stars remain confidential. However, even after all expenses and player fees, the company maintains healthy profits. Their most recent report, published in December 2023, shows Icons generated £19.2 million in annual revenue (over 2 billion rubles) with a net income after taxes of £3.5 million (approximately 435.3 million rubles). The company consistently operates profitably.
Market Position and Strategic Implications
As market leaders, it’s unlikely any competitor could offer Yamal better terms than Icons. This raises an important question: Could the autograph ban be a request from Icons themselves? The restriction would naturally make items on their website even more valuable and exclusive.
Yamal’s Current Pricing Structure
While Yamal’s autographed items aren’t as expensive as Messi’s, they command higher prices than many other rising stars. Currently, Icons offers Spain jerseys with Lamine’s autograph:
- Framed jersey alone: £1,000 (approximately 110,000 rubles)
- Jersey plus photo: £1,250 (approximately 140,000 rubles)
For comparison, this season’s Inter Miami jersey with Leo Messi’s autograph is available on Icons for the same £1,000 price point (currently discounted).
Yamal does have more affordable options available, including items priced at £800 and £775. Also available is a copy of artwork with his autograph for £700 (approximately 80,000 rubles) and the original artwork with signature for £10,000 (nearly 1.1 million rubles).
Sales Performance
According to the Icons catalog, the company has successfully sold 62 items featuring Yamal’s autograph, including both jerseys and boots, demonstrating strong market demand for the young star’s signature.
This strategic move to protect the value of Yamal’s autograph represents a significant shift in how modern footballers manage their commercial interests, balancing fan accessibility with business savvy in an increasingly valuable memorabilia market.
