Watford 2017-18 Adidas Home Longsleeve vintage jersey

Watford 2017-18 Adidas Long Sleeve Jersey — The Hornets' Longsleeve in the Premier League

The 2017-18 season, Watford in the Premier League, Adidas at the helm, and a long-sleeved home jersey representing one of the club's most stable periods in the English top flight since their return in 2015. Not a superstar jersey, not a club with nine stars — but a true piece of vintage Premier League, worn in stadiums where football is lived at 100 mph.

Jersey Details

Season: 2017-2018
Club: Watford FC
Type: Home
Kit Manufacturer: Adidas
Condition: 9/10
State: SPOTS — slight marks of authentic wear, direct witness of a worn vintage jersey
Fit: Long Sleeve (Longsleeve)
Size: L

What this jersey represents

In 2017-18, Watford FC played their third consecutive season in the Premier League after being promoted in 2015. The Vicarage Road club firmly established itself in the middle of the English top flight, where every point earned is a victory in itself. Under the ownership of the Pozzo family — who also manage Udinese and Granada — the Hornets built their own identity, a coherent project, far from the yo-yo many predicted for them.

That season, Marco Silva started as manager before being replaced in January by Javi Gracia, the Spaniard who would make club history. On the pitch, players like Troy Deeney — emblematic captain and symbol of the club's soul — Abdoulaye Doucouré in midfield, and Richarlison, who arrived in summer 2017 from Fluminense, gave the Hornets' play a true identity. Doucouré, in particular, had one of the best seasons of his career in this jersey.

Moments etched in this jersey

Richarlison shines under Adidas
Recruited for approximately 11 million euros in summer 2017, the Brazilian exploded in his first Premier League season wearing this jersey. His performances attracted attention from across the country, and his market value soared in a few months — he would be sold to Everton for over 50 million the following summer.

Doucouré, the midfield boss
Abdoulaye Doucouré delivered high-flying performances during the 2017-18 season, establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League in his position. The Franco-Malian was everywhere — pressing, recovering, transitions — and became the cornerstone of the Hornets' system.

The arrival of Javi Gracia and the revival
In January 2018, Javi Gracia took over and immediately corrected course after a series of disappointing results. The club finished in mid-table, solid, and laid the groundwork for what would be an FA Cup final the following year — the club's best performance in decades.

Authentic vs Replica

An authentic vintage jersey is primarily a matter of material and manufacturing. The cuts, labels, and textile technologies of the era — here the Adidas brand with its technical standards specific to the late 2010s — make all the difference compared to a modern reproduction. We're talking about an item designed to be worn on or near a pitch, not a retrospectively made copy to decorate a shelf.

This one is rated 9/10 with SPOTS — meaning very light, barely visible marks that prove this jersey has lived. This isn't a defect, it's a signature. A 10/10 jersey never left its packet; this one, however, may have seen Vicarage Road, may have been worn in the stands or on the street after a match. That's what an authentic vintage jersey is all about.

Vintage Size Guide

Vintage Adidas jerseys from the late 2010s generally run smaller than current standards. A 2017-18 L often corresponds to a modern M in terms of chest circumference, with a more fitted cut around the shoulders and torso. Don't just rely on the letter on the label — sizing standards have evolved and kit manufacturers' cuts vary from era to era.

Before confirming your order, take a measuring tape and measure your chest circumference and torso length. Then compare with the exact measurements of the jersey available on the product sheet. This is the only way to be 100% sure the jersey fits you — and to avoid disappointment upon receiving the package.

Why have it in your collection

The Watford 2017-18 Adidas jersey is a direct representation of a pivotal era for the club — one where the Hornets proved match after match that they belonged in the top flight. Jerseys from so-called "mid-table" Premier League teams are historically underrepresented in collections, which paradoxically makes them rarer to find in good condition than some mass-produced jerseys from big clubs. And the long-sleeved version is even less common — longsleeves have always been produced in more limited quantities.

In 9/10 condition, this jersey is clearly above average for what circulates in the vintage market. The SPOTS are minimal, the fabric structure is intact, the Adidas details are crisp. There aren't many in this condition still around — most examples from this season we come across have taken much harsher knocks over time.

To go further

• Watford FC — Wikipedia
• Football Kit Archive — History of football jerseys
• UEFA — European Football

If you're looking for a vintage Premier League jersey that's off the beaten path while being rooted in a true club history, you're in the right place. It's up to you.