Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal will no longer be giving out free autographs to fans as he prepares to enter a lucrative partnership for the sale of his signature.
This move, common among sports figures in the United States, reflects the growing global value of his personal brand but comes at a time when the 18-year-old star is under increased public scrutiny. Yamal has stopped giving free autographs to supporters as he finalizes a profitable commercial deal that will see his signature sold exclusively through a specialized company.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, the 18-year-old has been advised by his representatives to stop signing memorabilia in a strategic move aimed at increasing the commercial value of his autograph—marking a significant shift in the marketing of football’s brightest young star.
The decision comes as Yamal’s marketing agency negotiates a partnership with a company specializing in the promotion and sale of signed items from global sports icons. The core business principle behind this move is scarcity—the fewer freely signed items in circulation, the more valuable an official, authenticated signature becomes.
Fans hoping to get a shirt, boots, or other items signed by the Barcelona forward will soon have to purchase them directly from the official online retailer.
This move mirrors a long-standing practice in American sports, particularly among NBA stars such as LeBron James, where signed merchandise is tightly controlled and carries high market value.
