The best footballs
For the garden, the park and Saturday-morning training: footballs that keep their shape, grip the boot and, for the fans, carry the badge.
Footballs come in sizes, and under the FA's latest youth rules children play with a size 3 up to under-11s, a size 4 at under-12 and under-13, and the full-size 5 from under-14, so pick the size on the listing to suit who'll be kicking it. For a present, a licensed Premier League or Champions League design goes down well with a young fan.
Most balls arrive flat, so have a pump with a needle ready, and wet the needle before pushing it into the valve so it slides in cleanly. Check the pressure now and then, because every ball slowly loses a little air.
What matters
- The right size for the player's age.
- A cover that grips the boot and copes with rough ground.
- Stitched or bonded seams that hold the shape.
- A pump, if there isn't one in the house already.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Mitre Impel L30P Training Football
£10–£20 Price range
A tough, all-weather training ball with Mitre's Hyperseam seams, bonded as well as stitched, so it takes on almost no water on a wet pitch. The textured cover grips the boot, which helps young players learning close control.
What owners say: Owners find it great value and a good size for training, and say it's especially good for younger players.
Heads up: Mitre's own shop now sells the six-panel Impel Evo in its place, though this 30-panel Impel is still easy to find.
A closer look: It's happy on grass or astroturf in all weathers, so it earns its keep at club training as well as in the garden. Rinse off the mud and let it dry naturally, away from radiators, so the cover stays grippy.
- PU cover with soft foam backing
- 30-panel build
- Hyperseam bonded and stitched seams
- For grass or astroturf
- Sizes for children and adults
Best for: Training in all weathers
- Cover
- PU with foam backing
- Build
- 30 panels, bonded and stitched
- Official design
- No
#2 of 5
Runner-up
adidas Starlancer Club Football
Under £10 Price range
A simple, well-made adidas kickabout ball with a machine-stitched cover made from recycled polyurethane, at a price that doesn't sting when it sails over the fence.
What owners say: Owners like how well made and smart it looks, and think it's good value.
A closer look: It's a club-level ball for the park, the garden and the playground rather than a match ball. Pick a bright colourway if it's for the park, as it's easier to find in long grass at dusk.
- Recycled polyurethane cover
- Machine-stitched
- Choice of colours
Best for: Kickabouts
- Cover
- Recycled polyurethane
- Build
- Machine-stitched
- Official design
- No
#3 of 5
Best for Premier League fans
PUMA Stellar Cup Premier League 2026/27 Football
£28.00 RRP
This season's Premier League design, machine-stitched in a 16-panel pattern with a soft-touch, scuff-resistant cover, and styled on the league's own Reactivity match ball. PUMA took over the Premier League ball in 2025, after 25 years of Nike.
What owners say: Early reviews from owners are very positive.
A closer look: Being this season's design, it makes a timely birthday or Christmas present for a Premier League follower. The abrasion-resistant cover means it's fine for the garden and the park as well as the pitch.
- Premier League 2026/27 design
- 16-panel, machine-stitched
- Soft-touch cover
- Abrasion resistant
Best for: Premier League fans
- Cover
- Soft-touch, abrasion resistant
- Build
- 16 panels, machine-stitched
- Official design
- Premier League
#4 of 5
Best budget
Amazon Basics Football with Pump and Bag
Under £10 Price range
Everything in one box: the ball, a pump and a carry bag, so it can be blown up and played with the moment it's opened. The butyl bladder holds air well, and it comes in sizes 3, 4 and 5.
What owners say: Owners love that the pump comes in the box, find the size just right and call it great value for garden games.
A closer look: A handy one to keep in the car boot for trips to the park, pump and all. The size 3 is light, which suits young children still learning to kick.
- Pump and bag included
- Sizes 3, 4 and 5
- PVC cover, butyl bladder
- Machine-stitched
- Indoor or outdoor
Best for: Ready to play out of the box
- Cover
- PVC
- Build
- Machine-stitched, butyl bladder
- Official design
- No
#5 of 5
Best for Champions League fans
Hy-Pro UEFA Champions League Football (size 5)
£14.50 RRP
An officially licensed ball in the Champions League star design, full size 5, which makes it as much a bedroom-shelf keepsake as a garden ball.
What owners say: Owners say it looks great, and grandparents report that their grandsons love it.
Heads up: It's a PVC ball for kickabouts, so keep it on grass rather than concrete to keep the star design looking smart.
A closer look: Size 5 is the size used in the adult game, so a younger child may find a smaller ball easier to control. For a fan, it's a lovely thing to unwrap on a Champions League night.
- Official UEFA Champions League licence
- Star design
- Size 5
- PVC, 32 panels, machine-stitched
Best for: Champions League fans
- Cover
- PVC
- Build
- 32 panels, machine-stitched
- Official design
- UEFA Champions League
How they compare
| Feature | #1Mitre Impel | #2adidas Starlancer Club | #3PUMA Stellar Cup | #4Amazon Basics | #5Hy-Pro Champions League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best for Premier League fans | Best budget | Best for Champions League fans | |
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.2 |
| Price | £10–£20 Price range | Under £10 Price range | £28.00 RRP | Under £10 Price range | £14.50 RRP |
| Cover | PU with foam backing | Recycled polyurethane | Soft-touch, abrasion resistant | PVC | PVC |
| Build | 30 panels, bonded and stitched | Machine-stitched | 16 panels, machine-stitched | Machine-stitched, butyl bladder | 32 panels, machine-stitched |
| Official design | No | No | Premier League | No | UEFA Champions League |
| Best for | Training in all weathers | Kickabouts | Premier League fans | Ready to play out of the box | Champions League fans |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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