David Beckham’s signature
David Beckham has signed shirts, boots, photos and match balls for more than two decades, so his autograph is one of the most common in football. We have no freely licensed image of it to animate here, so read on to see where it turns up, how collectors judge it and what it can teach you.
We have not redrawn this signature yet, because we only animate signatures from freely licensed sources. The sources at the end of this page lead to the original.
Football shirts, photos, boots and display pieces, usually written in marker.
A quick, sporty autograph written in one go. Collectors say that variations over the years are normal.
Written with a steady, confident pressure, which authenticators look for.
Medium. Like most autographs signed at speed, it is more a flowing shape than careful lettering.
An autograph written thousands of times
Beckham played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan on loan and Paris Saint-Germain, and made 115 appearances for England. Each club and each tournament meant more shirts, photos and cards to sign. A signature repeated that often becomes a habit of the hand, which is why it is often described as quick and confident, and why small differences between years are expected.
What collectors look for
Dealers advise buying signed shirts with a certificate of authenticity from a reputable service and a hologram or serial number that matches it. They also look at the signature itself: consistent pressure, steady ink flow and no breaks or smudges. Prices vary widely. One dealer lists signed Beckham items from about £220 up to £899.99 for a Manchester United shirt.
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Numbers that follow him
At Manchester United Beckham took over the number 7 shirt before the 1997-98 season, which George Best and Eric Cantona had worn before him. At Real Madrid the number 7 belonged to captain Raúl, so he wore 23, inspired by Michael Jordan. Fans often look for the shirt number next to the autograph, because it tells you which chapter of his career the item comes from.
What you can learn from it
A signature that has to work on a curved shirt, a boot or a glossy photo should be quick, bold and simple to repeat. Think about the surfaces you sign on most, and test your signature there. Once the shape feels natural, keep it the same every time, because consistency is what makes a signature look genuine. A Professional Signature designed for you by us is built with exactly that in mind.
Sources
- Wikipedia: David Beckham
- First Class Memorabilia: investing in a David Beckham signed shirt
- AutographCOA: David Beckham autograph authentication
Editorial content. We are not affiliated with the people shown. We do not create copies of other people’s signatures, and signing someone else’s name is forgery.