American Express has added an unusual name to its list of Membership Rewards transfer partners: Fanatics, the sports merchandise giant. Some US cardmembers can now convert their points into FanCash, the rewards currency usable across Fanatics' ecosystem of team jerseys, trading cards, collectibles and even event tickets.

The maths is straightforward: 1,000 points gets you $10 in FanCash, so each point is worth one cent. You'll find the option under a new Lifestyle section on Amex's transfer partners page, and linking your Fanatics account takes only a few seconds — just log in with your existing credentials.

Here's the catch for anyone hoarding points for a flight: one cent per point is well below what your Membership Rewards points can realistically fetch. The Points Guy values them at around two cents each, a level you can approach by transferring to airline and hotel partners instead. In other words, this is not the redemption to pick if you're saving up for business class.

That said, it fills a genuine gap. Plenty of people accumulate Amex points with no trip on the horizon, and sports fans who regularly shop Fanatics now have a frictionless way to turn idle points into gear, memorabilia or tickets. It's flexibility rather than maximum value — and knowing your options is half the game.

The transfer option is one piece of a wider Amex-Fanatics partnership. The two companies are also launching a cobranded credit card, the Fanatics American Express Card, though applications aren't open yet — a waitlist is available for those keen to be first in line.

Details of the upcoming card are aimed squarely at superfans: no annual fee, 5% FanCash back on eligible Fanatics purchases (8% or more when shopping through the Fanatics app), sports-focused perks, and more than 500 card designs inspired by trading cards and featuring professional athletes. For anyone who spends heavily on merchandise, that earning rate is hard to ignore, especially since it costs nothing to hold.

Who should care? If you're a points optimiser, file this under 'nice to know' and keep transferring to airlines. If you're the kind of traveller whose souvenir budget goes on jerseys and rookie cards rather than fridge magnets, the new transfer route — and eventually the no-fee card — could quietly subsidise your fandom. Just treat the 1-cent rate as a floor, not a benchmark, and reach for airline partners whenever a trip is actually on the cards.