Van Persie's Manchester United shirt is best-selling in North America

The forward has taken the place of  strike partner Wayne Rooney and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres in the top 10, with the rise to first place coinciding with his summer move to Manchester United

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The shirts of Man Utd striker Robin Van Persie are the best-selling  Football jersey in North America.

In a list compiled by Sporting ID, the Netherlands international has moved ahead of striker partner Wayne Rooney - who has the best-selling shirt in Premier League history - and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres.

United States international Clint Dempsey becomes the first American in the top 10 after his rise to sixth in the list following his summer move from Fulham to Tottenham.

Robert Thayne, global sales and marketing director of Sporting ID, has highlighted the increased popularity of the sport in the continent as part of the findings.

"North American soccer fans continue to support the Premier League as fanatically as anywhere else, often waking at 4:00 to catch games on TV," he said. "Players like Van Persie, Eden Hazard, Clint Dempsey, Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere are top-class players playing for the biggest clubs in the world and their fans in North America are really no different than the ones who live in the UK.

"They are clearly showing their support of these players and their club by personalizing jerseys with official Premier League player names, numbers and sleeve badges."

Van Persie, Rooney are joined by Manchester United teammates Javier Hernandez and Shinji Kagawa on the list, along with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Frank Lampard, Dempsey of Tottenham, Steven Gerrard of Liverpool, and Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere.