A modern football shirt is knitted from close to 100% polyester, most often recycled at the three big kit makers. The choice is not about cost but function: polyester is hydrophobic, so it does not hold sweat — it moves it to the fabric's surface, where it evaporates. Nike, Adidas and Puma each run two moisture-wicking technologies — one for the supporter version (Dri-FIT, AEROREADY, dryCELL), one for the player version (Dri-FIT ADV, HEAT.RDY, ULTRAWEAVE). And in our July 2026 survey of 20 clubs, an official shirt averages €98 against €46 for a replica: the gap pays for the licence, the marketing and the distribution, not the material. Here is how these fabrics work, brand by brand.
How does a breathable fabric work?
Polyester is a hydrophobic fibre: it barely absorbs water. Its moisture regain is around 0.4% of its weight, against 7-8% for cotton. Sweat therefore never settles into the fibre: it travels by capillary action between the yarns, rises to the outer face of the shirt and evaporates there. Your skin stays dry and the shirt keeps its weight.
Cotton does the exact opposite. It absorbs sweat, loads up with water and sits cold, heavy and stuck against the skin. That is why no match shirt is made of cotton: you only find it on some lifestyle or retro pieces, which are not designed for exercise.
Which fabric technology does each brand use?
The three big kit makers apply the same principle — moving sweat outwards — under two names each: one fabric for the supporter version, a more advanced one for the player version.
| Brand | Supporter version | Player version | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nike | Dri-FIT | Dri-FIT ADV | The most technical player version |
| Adidas | AEROREADY | HEAT.RDY | Denser knit, sturdy feel |
| Puma | dryCELL | ULTRAWEAVE | The lightest and stretchiest |
At Nike, Dri-FIT ADV combines zone-mapped knitting with targeted perforations: it is the most technical player version of the three. At Adidas, the knit is denser and the seams reinforced — the shirt ages well; the brand also launched Climacool+ in 2026 to round out its range. At Puma, ULTRAWEAVE is the lightest, stretchiest fabric on the market.
Player version or supporter version?
The player version uses the fabric worn on the pitch: a lighter knit, mesh zones under the arms and across the back, a fit cut close to the body. It costs €20-40 more than the supporter version. In exchange, the tight cut forgives little: it is built for exercise, not for the stands.
The supporter version uses each brand's base technology, with a straight cut and a slightly thicker knit. It is the more comfortable one for everyday wear, and the one most fans actually wear.
Is the fabric of a replica any different?
Not fundamentally: a replica uses the same family of knitted polyester as the big brands' supporter version. In our July 2026 survey of 20 clubs, the official shirt averages €98 and the replica €46. That €52 gap pays for the licence, the marketing and the distribution — not the material.
The full survey, club by club, is in our 2026 price study. And to settle the three brands fabric by fabric, our Nike vs Adidas vs Puma comparison goes through them line by line.
How do you care for the fabric?
- Wash at 30°C maximum — any hotter and the polyester slackens and the printing starts to peel.
- Never tumble dry — the heat sets creases and damages heat-applied transfers.
- Turn the shirt inside out in the drum — the printing and sponsors stop rubbing against the rest of the load.
The full protocol, stain by stain, is in our shirt and printing care guide.
Pick your shirt
Replicas in breathable polyester, sizes S to XXXL, optional name and number printing.
