Arsenal’s Premier League triumph is translating into brisk business for jersey sellers, with traders across Nairobi reporting a sharp surge in demand that has seen stocks depleted within days.
At Sports Fanatiks in Nairobi, seller Josphat Ochieng says the spike in sales has been immediate and overwhelming.
“Since Arsenal’s title win, my jersey sales have really changed. Sales have been crazy to the point that we ran out of stock yesterday,” he said. “The red home kit in large and extra-large sizes is already sold out, and the blue away kit is gone.”
Ochieng noted that the home jersey is driving most of the demand, attributing it to its symbolic value among supporters.
“People are buying the home red kit because it’s what they identify with most. It’s their identity,” he explained.
Despite the surge, he says prices have remained stable at Sh1,500 per jersey, with custom name printing costing Sh50 per letter.
“We have not adjusted our prices or taken advantage. Most of my customers are die-hard Arsenal fans who have been waiting for this moment,” he added.
The demand has also exposed supply chain pressures, with traders scrambling to restock.
“We have already restocked, and new shipment is coming by air from Thailand. We expect them today (Monday),” said Ochieng, who sold over 300 jerseys in a single day. “Right now, it’s mostly Arsenal jerseys selling. Other clubs like Manchester United are not moving as much.”
A similar trend is evident among online sellers. Brian Ngula, popularly known as Goat Jerseys, says the demand has been relentless since the title was confirmed.
“The demand has been crazy. Yesterday I barely had time to eat because I was serving customers from all over the country,” he said.
Ngula, who primarily sells through social media platforms, says the current demand far exceeds what was seen earlier in the season.
“We can’t compare this to the start or even the tail end of the season. Right now, the home kit is leading by far,” he said.
His pricing ranges from Sh1,300 for fan versions to Sh2,000 for vintage jerseys, with printing costing Sh400. His customer base is largely young and digitally driven.
“I mostly deal with Gen Z customers who buy online, either for themselves or as gifts,” he noted.
However, like many traders, Ngula says he was caught off guard by the scale of demand.
“As we speak, I don’t have any Arsenal jerseys left. Even other seller is saying the same. I don’t think we anticipated this, it’s like we were not ready for Arsenal to actually win,” he said.
While Arsenal merchandise dominates, he notes that other clubs are trailing.
“Right now, it feels like we are only selling Arsenal jerseys. Manchester United is the closest, but still far behind,” he added.
For Siddik Thuo, founder of Jersey Kings Collection, the surge reflects both loyal fandom and opportunistic buying.
“Arsenal fans have been filling up the shops. Some had already bought jerseys earlier, but they still want new ones to celebrate the champions,” he said.
Thuo observed that while die-hard supporters remain a core market, a significant portion of buyers are driven by the hype.
“Most customers are actually people jumping on the trend, though we still have loyal fans who have supported Arsenal through thick and thin,” he said.
Like other sellers, he reports stock shortages following the surge.
“We had a lot of Arsenal stock earlier in the year, but now we are sold out. Everyone asking for jerseys is being told we don’t have them,” he said.
Supplies are sourced from multiple markets, including China, Thailand and Germany, with restocking timelines ranging from two weeks to a month, depending on shipping.
Beyond Arsenal, Thuo says other clubs are still selling, albeit at a slower pace.
“Manchester United and Chelsea jerseys are still moving, but Arsenal has clearly dominated. Liverpool sales have gone down,” he noted.
For traders, such moments represent rare commercial peaks in a largely seasonal business.
“This is life-changing if you plan well,” Thuo said. “But it’s also seasonal, so you have to diversify into other products like boots and football equipment.”
As the excitement around Arsenal’s title continues, traders are betting the momentum will hold long enough to turn fan passion into sustained profit.
