Birthday gift for 9 yo boy

[StumpedForIdeas]

I am utterly stumped as to what to buy my DS for his 9th birthday - in 10 days. I have lots of bits but no main gift. Budget around £100.

He has so much Lego, he doesn't need more. Lots of board games. A scooter and bike. Den kits. Sports stuff.

He loves football, rugby, creative writing, animals... all sorts.

Can't do "an experience" as a gift as we have animals and busy lives / sporting fixtures for 3 kids and it just never works out.

Help - please!

I was going to suggest Lego or board games! What about Gravitrax? Nephew loved it, and we bought various add on bits after parents bought a starter kit. Or, as you've bought several bits to open already you could say to him that there wasn't an obvious main present to buy, but there's credit in the birthday account for when he comes up with something he'd like? He's younger than my DC were when we did this, but they both would rather wait months (or memorably in DD's case 3 years - got 18th birthday jewellery at same time as 21st once she'd finally decided what she wanted) for a big something that they finally decide they want.

How about £100 cash? I'd have loved that as a nine year old.

He gets an exciting present and to learn a bit about money and budgeting/saving and you don't buy something that he doesn't want/need (if there was something he wanted or needed you wouldn't be asking Mumsnet what to get him!).

Football kit?

Football kit of his favourite player? Fancy football shoes?

Don't get Gravitrax unless he has asked for it (ditto Snap Circuits). I always see them recommended on here and relatives keep very kindly giving them to my son, who smells "educational gift" off them and isn't interested. I can't give them to his friends either because they have the same reaction. I am convinced their sales are not based on actual demand from children (although I quite like them).

Thank you for the ideas. He hasn't outgrown the football kit he got for Christmas so I'd best not get another - it was really expensive so I don't want "more than one" to become the norm.

He gets money from grandparents- £50 from each side - so don't want to add to that.

I'll look at gravitrax but will also heed the warning...

I still feel stumped!

Insta max Polaroid camera. My kids love theirs!

Something to decorate his room with, like a lava lamp or glowing stickers
Poster calendar with his favorite character/artist
Science kits like a crystal growing set or a volcano kit

Might be of help with regards to the expensive football kit, we got our nephew's some of the boxes from Mystery Boxes | PartyFC for both of their birthdays and Christmas. They got football shirts, books, scarves, packs of football stickers and other bits and bobs. One of them got a Messi shirt so I'm the favourite uncle now😂worth a look as they're only like £10-20 a box.

I totally get the struggle of finding something unique for a 9-year-old with a ton of stuff already. When it came to my nephew's birthday, I used MyRegistry to create a gift list, including a mix of fun and practical gifts. It's great because it allows friends and family to contribute to things that would truly be useful—like a football kit, creative writing books, or even a gift card for his favorite hobby! That way, you get exactly what they want without doubling up on things they already own. Hope that helps