Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has seen the value of one of his match-worn shirts soar after the jersey he wore during his memorable hat-trick against Ipswich Town sold for £22,549, equivalent to approximately Sh3.93 million.
The signed shirt was auctioned after Fernandes produced a remarkable individual display in Manchester United’s 5-2 Premier League victory over Ipswich at Old Trafford on August 30, 2026.
Fernandes shirt attracts huge bid
The Portuguese midfielder wore the shirt throughout the encounter before signing it, adding another layer of significance to an already valuable piece of Manchester United memorabilia.
According to the official auction listing, Fernandes scored three goals in the match, finding the net with a left-footed equaliser in the first half before converting a penalty and completing his treble with a curling effort in the second half.
He also played a role in Manchester United’s comeback by assisting Bryan Mbeumo for another goal.
The shirt was subsequently authenticated and offered to collectors, with the final £22,549 price putting it firmly among the more expensive pieces of football memorabilia associated with the fixture.
Huge gap between Fernandes and teammates
The auction result was particularly notable because other shirts worn during the same Manchester United-Ipswich encounter attracted considerably lower bids.
Kobbie Mainoo’s shirt sold for £2,601, approximately Sh454,000, while Marcus Rashford’s shirt fetched £1,933, roughly Sh337,000.
Another Mainoo shirt, worn during the first half, went for £1,411, or about Sh246,000.
Fernandes’ shirt therefore attracted a bid several times higher than the other match-worn jerseys offered from the game.
The difference appears to be closely connected to the significance of Fernandes’ performance, with the shirt carrying the history of the Manchester United captain’s three-goal display.
A special piece of United history
The official Manchester United auction description states that the Ipswich fixture marked Fernandes’ third hat-trick for the club.
Interestingly, all three of his Manchester United hat-tricks have come at Old Trafford, while his two Premier League trebles have both been scored in United’s first home game of a season.
The auction listing also notes that the shirt bears visible ink marks or stains on the back, further indicating that it was actually used during the match rather than being a replica prepared solely for collectors.
It was also authenticated through Fabricks, with the auction listing stating that the item was collected directly from Manchester United and accompanied by a digital certificate of authenticity.
Fernandes continues to attract recognition
The auction comes during a period in which Fernandes has received significant individual recognition for his performances.
He was named the PFA Men’s Players’ Player of the Year after his displays during the 2025/26 campaign, an award voted for by fellow professional footballers.
His hat-trick against Ipswich subsequently added another memorable chapter to his Manchester United career.
For football memorabilia collectors, the value of such items is often tied not simply to the player whose name appears on the shirt, but to the historical moment attached to it.
In Fernandes’ case, the jersey represents a match in which Manchester United recovered from an early setback to beat Ipswich 5-2, while their captain personally contributed three goals and an assist.
That combination of authenticity, provenance and an outstanding individual performance helped turn an ordinary football shirt into a collectible worth almost Sh4 million.
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