Hurst 66 shirt returns to Wembley

Andrew Leslau bought Sir Geoff Hurst's World Cup 66 final shirt

The England shirt Sir Geoff Hurst wore to win the 1966 football World Cup is to return to Wembley after it was bought by an Oxfordshire businessman.

Property investor Andrew Leslau, 51, acquired the hat-trick hero's red number 10 shirt for an undisclosed sum on behalf of international investors.

Mr Leslau has insured the shirt for £1m and it will be on display for England's World Cup qualifier with Kazakhstan.

It was bought along with the shirt worn by England's Roger Hunt in the final.

This is the most important shirt in English football history - not just the most valuable and most expensive in the world Andrew Leslau, shirt owner

"This is the most important shirt in English football history - not just the most valuable and most expensive in the world," said Mr Leslau.

"We know how much all the other shirts have sold for and the one prior to that was Pele's from the 1970 World Cup final, which was £157,000. Geoff Hurst's shirt is worth more than that.

"I will be proud to bring it back to Wembley.

"The stadium might have changed but the shirt is the ultimate reminder of the England team's most glorious day."

Sir Geoff scored a hat-trick in the shirt on 30 July 1966.

It was bought at auction at Christie's in 2000 by a private collector for £91,750 and has been sold again.

Mr Leslau said he was in talks with a number of parties interested in exhibiting it but it would return to Wembley on Saturday.

The shirts of West Germans Wolfgang Weber and Lothar Emmerich were also included in the purchase.

"It should not be hidden away in a bank vault somewhere," he said.

"We do think it is as valuable as a Damien Hirst but nonetheless we want it seen by football fans in an appropriate and fitting home."