How to remove the sponsor from your football (soccer) shirt [Without damaging it]

Wearing your favorite team’s kit is a way of showing support and admiration. But, let’s face it, not everyone wants to walk around with the sponsor’s name on their shirt.

Whether it’s because you want to avoid product placement, are looking to sell it on eBay or just don’t like the logo, there are ways to remove it without damaging your beloved kit.

Here’s how to remove the sponsor from your football (soccer) shirt without damaging it.

Let’s kick off!

How do you remove a sponsor from a football (soccer) shirt?

You might be tired of being a walking billboard for your football club’s sponsors. Or maybe you just bought a second-hand football shirt with too many sponsors on it and want to remove them.

Whatever your reason, you’re in the right place. Here’s how to remove sponsors from your football (soccer) shirt without damaging it.

Assess the Type of Sponsor Logo You’re Dealing With.

Before you begin, it’s important to know what kind of logo you’re dealing with.

Some logos are heat-pressed onto the shirt, while others are directly embroidered. If it’s heat-pressed, it’s likely that you can just peel it off with ease.

But if it’s embroidered, you’ll have to be a bit more careful. Here’s are a few things you can try to remove each one:

How to remove Vinyl sponsor logos.

Made of durable, lightweight, and flexible material, vinyl sponsor logos are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, constant washing, and the wear and tear of intense matches.

While they may look like they’re glued on the shirt, vinyl sponsor logos are surprisingly easy to remove if needed. Here are three methods you can try.

Method #1 Use an iron

If the sponsor is heat-transferred, you can try to remove it with an iron.

What you’ll need:

An iron and ironing board. Rubbing alcohol, cotton swabs, and a pair of tweezers. Lay the soccer shirt flat and ensure it’s wrinkle-free.

What to do:

Step 1: Prepare the shirt

Start by turning the shirt inside out on the ironing board, and place a towel or cloth on top of the sponsor’s logo. You can also use a sheet of baking paper.

Step 2: Heat it up

Next, preheat the iron to a low heat setting and gently place it on the area where the sponsor’s logo is located. Don’t press it down too hard.

Step 3: Keep it moving

Don’t leave the iron too long in one place or it will scorch the decal. Keep the iron moving for about 30 seconds, and then remove the cloth and let it cool down.

Step 4: Remove the sponsor logo

Once cool, peel off the sponsor’s logo gently and use white vinegar to clean up any glue or residue left behind.

Method #2 Use a hairdryer

You can also try removing vinyl logos with a hairdryer.

What you’ll need:

Make sure you’re in a well-lit area with a clean work surface.

Gather a few supplies: a hairdryer, a butter knife, rubbing alcohol, cotton swabs, and a pair of tweezers.

What to do:

Step 1: Heat it up

Using the hairdryer, apply heat to the sponsor logo. Try to keep the hairdryer three or four inches away from the shirt.

Step 2: Keep it moving

Don’t overheat or scorch the logo, just keep it moving so you don’t burn anything. Keep heating the logo until you can smoothly pull up a small section with the tweezers.

Step 3: Remove the Logo

Once you can lift up a small section of the logo, use the butter knife to gently work the rest of the logo off. Be patient and don’t rush: if you try to yank the logo off, you’ll likely damage your shirt. Use the tweezers to help you remove all the small leftover parts. 

Step 4: Clean It Up

Once the sponsor logo is removed, give the shirt a minute to cool down. Then, damp your cotton swab with rubbing alcohol and gently clean up the area where the logo used to be. This will help dissolve any adhesive residue left behind.

Method #3 Use a Chemical Remover

There are also chemical removers available that can be used to remove sponsors from football shirts.

What you’ll need:

Goo Gone is a popular product for removing sticky residue and can work wonders on vinyl sponsor logos.

What to do:

Apply a small amount of Goo Gone to a cloth and gently rub it over the logo and any remaining adhesive residue.

Allow the product to sit for a few minutes before wiping it away with a clean cloth. Rinse the jersey with water and detergent to remove any Goo Gone residue.

Watch and learn: How to remove letters and numbers from a football shirt.

This is our favourite video that shows you how to remove a name or number from a football shirt using the ironing method about and walks you through exactly what to do!

How to remove sewn-on sponsor logos.

Some logos are sewn directly onto the fabric and can be harder to remove without leaving holes or rips in the fabric.

What you’ll need:

Before we start, make sure you have all the necessary tools, namely a seam ripper, scissors, and a lint roller. These tools will help you efficiently and carefully remove the sewn-on logos.

What to do:

Step 1: Identify the stitches

Take a close look at the logo, and find the stitches that are holding it onto the shirt.

The sponsor logo is usually embroidered with different kinds of stitches, and those stitches hold the logo onto the fabric. Use your seam ripper to carefully remove each stitch without ruining the surrounding area.

Step 2: Remove the stitches

Use your seam ripper to carefully remove each stitch without ruining the surrounding area. Be sure to take your time and be gentle! Avoid tugging or pulling too hard on the fabric, as this can cause the fabric to tear or stretch.

Step 3: Cut any remaining threads

There’ll be some thread residues left behind once the stitches are removed. Use your trusty pair of scissors to carefully cut the threads as close to the fabric as possible. This will ensure that there aren’t any stray threads sticking out.

Step 4: Clean up

Once you’ve removed the sewn-on logo, don’t forget to give your jersey a good cleaning. Use a lint roller to pick up any loose threads or fabric residues. You can also machine wash the jersey on a gentle cycle to get rid of any dirt or sweat stains.

The final score.

So, the next time you want to remove the sponsor from your favorite jersey, just follow these steps and you’ll be able to do it without worrying about ruining the fabric or stretching it out.

With some patience and careful work, you can easily customize your shirt or jersey with minimal effort. Good luck!