Sunderland Away Shirt 2016-17 Adidas Vintage | Collector

Sunderland Away Shirt 2016-17 Adidas – The Season of the Fall from Grace

The 2016-17 season is one that Sunderland fans will never forget – and not for the right reasons. This Sunderland Adidas 2016-17 away shirt is a direct witness to one of the most painful relegations in recent Premier League history, worn by a squad that fought to the very end despite everything.

Shirt Details

Season: 2016-2017
Club: Sunderland AFC
Type: Away
Manufacturer: Adidas
Sponsor: DAFABET
Condition: 8/10
State: LITTLE USED PRINTINGS – authentic and light wear of a worn vintage shirt, printings still very present

What this shirt represents

In 2016-17, Sunderland AFC was fighting for survival in the Premier League for the third consecutive season. The club, founded in 1879 and historically rooted in the North East of England, was going through an unprecedented period of turbulence. David Moyes took over in October 2016, after Sam Allardyce left to coach the English national team, but even he couldn't reverse the trend. It was a season marked by uncertainty, lack of confidence, and immense pressure on the shoulders of a chronically understaffed squad.

On the pitch, a few names tried to keep the boat afloat. Jermain Defoe, a veteran of English football, remained one of the few positives in this nightmarish season with his valuable goals. Jordan Pickford, then a young exploding goalkeeper, impressed despite the collective defeat — he would be sold to Everton at the end of the season for £30 million. Patrick van Aanholt and Jan Kirchhoff were also part of the squad wearing the shirt that year. This group played in a heavy atmosphere, but the Stadium of Light continued to roar behind them.

Moments etched into this shirt

The end of Moyes' reign and official relegation
Sunderland were officially relegated to the Championship in May 2017, finishing the season with only 24 points. It was the end of a long presence in the Premier League for a club that had already experienced ups and downs, but never such a brutal fall.

Defoe, the last warrior standing
In this dark season, Jermain Defoe scored 15 league goals, almost single-handedly carrying the Black Cats' attack. His individual performances were one of the few lights in a hopeless tunnel, and they will remain in the collective memory of Sunderland fans.

Pickford, the treasure that flew away
Jordan Pickford confirmed in 2016-17 that he was one of England's best young goalkeepers, conceding goals but saving face week after week. His post-relegation transfer to Everton symbolised the beginning of the talent drain that would accelerate the club's fall into the lower divisions.

Authentic vs. Replica

An authentic vintage shirt is a piece that actually circulated during that era — made to be worn, not to be sold in a display case. The cut, the materials, the 2016 Adidas finishes, the interior labels, and the texture of the flocking speak for themselves when you hold this kind of item in your hand. It's not a reproduction, it's the original.

Here, the 8/10 condition with LITTLE USED PRINTINGS indicates that the shirt has been worn, lightly, and that the printings show minimal but visible wear — which is perfectly normal and expected for a piece of this generation. This is not a defect; it's proof that this Sunderland Adidas away shirt has lived, just like the club itself that season.

Vintage Size Guide

Vintage Adidas jerseys from the 2010s often have a more fitted cut than current standards, even if this period is more recent than the great classics of the 90s. An XL from 2016 may correspond more to a modern L depending on your body shape and how you wear the jersey — worn loose or close to the body, it changes everything.

Before ordering, measure your chest circumference and compare it with the flat measurements of the jersey available on the product sheet. As a general rule, if you hesitate between two sizes, take the larger one for optimal comfort — especially if you want to wear it during matches or outings. An XL collector's jersey remains a safe bet for most body types.

Why have it in your collection

This Sunderland away shirt 2016-17 represents much more than a simple piece of clothing — it's a historical document. Relegation seasons create rare items, charged with a particular emotion that title-winning seasons cannot always match. Fans who experienced this descent know what this shirt means. Collectors who want to tell the complete story of English football also know why it deserves a place in their wardrobe.

In 8/10 condition, with slightly worn printings but an overall very well-preserved shirt, this piece is in a state not often found for vintage Premier League shirts of this era. Most have been worn until total wear or have disappeared into drawers for years. There aren't many in this condition — and even fewer with the Dafabet sponsor and the Adidas branding as legible as on this one.

To go further

• Sunderland A.F.C. – Wikipedia
• Football Kit Archive – History of jerseys
• UEFA – European Football

If you're looking for a shirt that tells a true football story — the struggle, the fall, the warriors who fight to the end — this Sunderland 2016-17 is for you. No pressure, but this kind of piece doesn't stick around for long.