Dybala, Firmino, Pastore, Stones & Co - Here Are 10 Important 2017-18 Shirt Number Switches
Aug 16, 2017, by Chris
With the new season kicking off in Europe these weeks and the summer transfer window almost over, it is a perfect moment to look at the most important shirt number switches of the summer. While you likely are already aware of the most important kit number changes (Dybala & Modric), several other players have changed their numbers for the 17-18 season, whether voluntary or forced by the club...
Javier Pastore - 10 -> 27
With Neymar joining Paris Saint-Germain, PSG's Argentinian forward Javier Pastore had to give up his No. 10 shirt for the shirt with No. 27.
He seemed to be not so happy with this as he commented "Henrique (PSG's sporting director) came asking for no. 10. It made me happy to have the number 10 kit between Ibra and Neymar. I like the 27."
Luka Modric - 19 -> 10
The exit of James Rodriguez from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich has opened the door for a new No. 10 at Real Madrid. Luka Modric took the chance to give up his No. 19 for the No. 10. Luka Modric is also wearing the No. 10 for the Croatian national team and also took the shirt with the No. 10 when playing for Dinamo Zagreb.
Luka Modric said: "I am proud to carry this number. When you look at who are the players who wore this number, they are all great players. This number is my favorite. I did not really think about changing it, but when this opportunity came, I could not miss it. Because it's the number I prefer, and now I'm with the number ten and I hope to show expectations, but in the end the number does not play.
I will continue to give everything for the team and in the field to help the team win. Regardless of the number, I will try to be equal and do things like I have done in the past, "he said, in words for the media of Real Madrid."
Franck Kessie - 19 -> 79
AC Milan youngster Kessie switched from No. 19 to No. 79 following on the arrival of Bonucci, who wanted to take his favorite shirt number 19. Kessie only received the number in June when he was signed by the Rossoneri from Atalanta.
Bonucci said: "I went on tiptoes, I talked to Kessie, and we agreed," I thank him, he's a smart and sensitive lad, he's a great investment for this club. For me 19 is an important number, I relied on it in difficult moments in my personal life and my career, so thank you again."
Lucas Perez - 9 -> 28
Arsenal's Lucas Perez wore the number nine shirt last season following his arrival in 2016 but with the Spaniard set to leave, he has been demoted to 28 in order to give Lacazette the No. 9 shirt. Lucas Perez's agent, Rodrigo Fernandez Lovelle, told Press Association Sport that the Spaniard was unhappy with having his number nine shirt taken away from him without being asked.
Lucas Perez's agent said: "We have talked to everyone. Arsenal know we want to go, that there are no opportunities here, and next year there is a World Cup. Would you not be angry and sad and upset if you had your squad number taken without being asked?"
John Stones - 24 -> 5
With the departure of Roman Zabaleta to West Ham, John Stones has been quick to take the number. The defender also wore No.5 during his final season at Everton in the 2015-16 campaign.
Reacting to the switch, he wrote on Instagram: "Honoured to carry on the number 5 shirt from the legend that is Pablo! I hope to do it proud over the coming years."
Roberto Firmino - 11 -> 9
Following on Salah's arrival at Liverpool, Roberto Firmino requested to move to the No.9 shirt from the 2017-18 season. Firmino had been wearing the No. 11 shirt since joining the Reds in 2015.
"As a gesture to those fans who have already purchased the official 2017-18 jersey with Firmino's name and number 11 on the back, Roberto would like to offer supporters the opportunity to have them personally signed by him. All official 2017-18 season shirts with ‘Firmino 11’ printed on them should be sent to Anfield by August 18, 2017 with a stamped self-addressed envelope big enough to contain your jersey. It will then be signed by Firmino and returned using the self-addressed envelope."
Lukaku - 10 -> 9
Romelu Lukaku, who used to play with number 10 because of his mother's birthday on October 10, took No. 9 with the permission from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Lukaku said: "I always asked my mother what number, and I used to play with the 10 because my mother's birthday is on Oct. 10, so it's the 10th month of the year. "Strikers play with No. 9. It's a nice number, and I asked the permission of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I want to thank him, as well, for allowing me to wear that number."
After Memphis Depay's departure to Lyon in January and Wayne Rooney's move to Everton, Man Utd's No. 7 and No. 10 shirts are both vacant.
Paulo Dybala - 21 -> 10
Following rumors about a possible transfer to Barcelona, Juventus announced that the Argentinian Paulo Dybala will receive Juventus' iconic number 10 shirt that has been vacant since Pogba left the club.
James Rodriguez - 10 -> 11
It was rumored that James Rodriguez's contract with Adidas would include a clause that he has to wear the No. 10 shirt, but these rumors were denied by Adidas. And as Bayern München's No. 10 kit was already assigned to Robben, James has to be satisfied with No. 11 that .
Ochoa - 13 -> 8
Another interesting and quite strange shirt number switch comes from Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who chose to wear the No. 8 for Standard Liège instead of his usual 13 because his surname is very similar to the Spanish word for number eight ('ocho').
VfL Wolfsburg Changes Several Shirt Numbers
Various teams have changed several shirt numbers for the 2017-2018 season. One of them is VfL Wolfsburg, who gave several players new kit numbers, (Koen Casteels - 28 -> 1, Jakub Blaszczykowski - 14 -> 16, Paul-Georges Ntep - 9 -> 7).
What do you think of players switching shirt numbers during the summer? Have we missed any important switches? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
No More Tolledo: ASA de Arapiraca Announce Junpe Kit Deal
Brazilian side Agremiação Sportiva Arapiraquense (ASA) has officially announced a new technical partnership with sportswear brand Junpe Uniformes. The deal will see the São Paulo-based company take over as the club's official kit supplier starting with the 2027 season, replacing previous manufacturer Tolledo Sports.
The partnership marks another significant expansion for Junpe across Brazilian football. Founded in 2018 in Bernardino de Campos, the manufacturer has quickly built a strong presence in the domestic market, providing kits for roughly thirty clubs, including Alagoas rivals CSA as well as teams such as Brusque, São Bento, and Santo André.
ASA and Junpe are expected to present the club's new match kit and training collection ahead of the 2027 campaign, in which the Alvinegro will compete in the Campeonato Alagoano and national tournaments.
Virgil van Dijk Fronts High-Tech Nike x Hyperice Air Zoom Hyperslide
Nike and wellness technology brand Hyperice have officially launched their newest collaborative innovation, the Nike Air Zoom Hyperslide. Fronted by Liverpool captain and Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk, the high-tech slide is engineered to bring professional-grade post-match recovery into an effortless everyday silhouette. The release represents the second major chapter in the Nike x Hyperice partnership following their high-top Hyperboot debut.
The slide integrates Hyperice's heat and massage therapy directly across the bridge of the foot using a removable, magnetic Hyperslide Pod housed inside an adjustable strap. The pod provides three adjustable heat levels reaching up to 47°C (117°F) alongside three targeted vibration settings designed to ease foot tension and boost circulation in 15-minute cycles. Underfoot, Nike supplies a low-profile, full-length Air Zoom unit to ensure high-end impact cushioning, with settings easily adjusted through on-device buttons or the companion Hyperice mobile app.
Designed for travel and post-training downtime, the slides are TSA carry-on friendly and offer up to an hour of battery life via USB-C recharging. The Nike x Hyperice Air Zoom Hyperslide is available in both Black and Orewood Brown colorways for $249 via Nike, Hyperice, and select global stockists.
Arka Gdynia 26-27 Third Kit Released - Celebrating 100 Years of Gdynia
Polish club Arka Gdynia and technical partner Macron have officially launched the club's new third kit for the 26-27 season. The special jersey has been created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Gdynia receiving city rights in 1926, paying homage to the city's rich maritime history and coastal identity.
The Macron Arka Gdynia 26-27 third jersey features a sandy beige base color inspired by the Baltic beaches and the city's centenary celebrations. Across the front panel is a tonal sublimated street map of Gdynia, referencing the city's famous concept of being built from sea and dreams. Contrast detailing arrives in dark brown on the sponsor prints and Macron branding, while the ribbed crew collar and sleeve cuffs are finished with brown, white, and yellow striping.
Several bespoke elements are incorporated into the design, highlighted by the exact geographical coordinates of the club's municipal stadium embroidered in gold thread on the upper back. The left sleeve displays a stylized 100 Gdynia anniversary badge, and custom neck tape carries a dedicated club motto inside the collar. The kit completes Arka's 26-27 match collection alongside the home and away jerseys released earlier this summer.
Mantova 1911 26-27 Third Kit Released
Italian Serie B club Mantova 1911 and Adidas have officially unveiled their new third kit for the 26-27 season. Dubbed the "LOTO" jersey, the design is deeply rooted in local natural history, drawing direct inspiration from the lotus flowers that were introduced to the Mincio River and Lago Superiore in the 1920s and have since become a defining spectacle of the city.
The Adidas Mantova 1911 26-27 third jersey combines a dark base with brushstroke-like textured graphic patterns in shades of blue across the torso, evoking the flowing waters around Mantua. Traditional club identity is maintained through red and white trim on the crew-neck collar and sleeve cuffs. The Adidas three-stripe performance emblem appears in white on the right chest, placed opposite Mantova's classic crest.
The new jersey completes the club's matchwear collection for the 26-27 campaign alongside their clean white home and red away kits, delivering a distinct, nature-inspired alternative look on the pitch.
Punjab FC 26-27 Third Kit Released
Indian Super League side Punjab FC have officially revealed their new third kit for the 26-27 season, crafted by domestic kit partner Shiv-Naresh. The new release completes the club's wardrobe alongside their previously launched home and away strips.
The Shiv-Naresh Punjab FC 26-27 third jersey introduces a clean white base paired with vibrant orange accents on the round crewneck collar and sleeve cuffs. What sets the design apart is the rich orange floral artwork placed along the lower flanks and running across the sleeves, celebrating traditional Punjabi artistic heritage. A subtle all-over tonal pattern runs across the fabric, adding extra texture beneath the surface.
The shirt is finished with the black Shiv-Naresh panther logo on the right chest, the full-color Punjab FC crest on the left, and dafaNEWS branding placed in the center.
Fleetwood Town Unveil Commemorative Puma Shirt for Arsenal Carabao Cup Tie
Fleetwood Town have unveiled a special commemorative Puma home shirt to celebrate their upcoming League Cup fourth-round clash against Premier League giants Arsenal. The Cod Army secured their place in the last 16 following an impressive cup run featuring clean-sheet home victories over Chesterfield, Shrewsbury Town, and Sheffield United. The historic tie is scheduled to be played at Fleetwood's own Highbury Stadium on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
Manufactured by Puma, the special edition 26-27 kit builds on Fleetwood's traditional look with a red body, contrasting white sleeves, and black-and-white detailing along the collar and cuffs. The standout addition is the embroidered match inscription placed neatly on the chest between the Fleetwood Town crest and the Puma cat logo, detailing the fixture, tournament round, venue, and date, sitting directly above the Ruby Energy main sponsor.
The shirt is the centerpiece of a broader official commemorative merchandise range released by the club for the occasion, which also includes a bespoke matchday programme, souvenir ticket, and commemorative scarf. Available in limited quantities, the jersey has been launched for pre-order through the club's online store priced at £70 for adult sizes and £60 for juniors.
Nike "Joga Bonito" React Gato & Streetgato Boots Released
Nike has introduced Brazilian-inspired "Joga Bonito" editions for the React Gato and Streetgato, paying homage to the brand's iconic 2006 campaign. The lifestyle and small-sided Streetgato arrives in a vibrant canary yellow upper with white accents and a classic gum outsole, while the indoor-focused React Gato is dressed in royal blue with silver detailing and embroidered "Joga" branding on the heel tab. Both models feature soft synthetic leather across the forefoot for an enhanced touch, combining heritage flair with modern court performance and React cushioning.
PSG to Wear Special Pink October Kit Against Lyon
Paris Saint-Germain and main sponsor Qatar Airways have unveiled their fifth consecutive Pink October initiative to support breast cancer awareness and patient care. For the campaign, PSG's 26-27 home kit features the iconic pink ribbon placed underneath the Qatar Airways logo, complete with a pink gradient effect and matching pink player names and numbers on the back. The men's squad will wear the special shirt during their Ligue 1 clash against Olympique Lyonnais on October 25 at the Parc des Princes, following appearances by the women's team against OL Lyonnes on October 17 and the handball side on October 10. Match-worn shirts from these fixtures will be auctioned off to raise funds for the AP-HP Sorbonne Université hospital network.
In-House FC Barcelona 92-95 Remake Kit Released
FC Barcelona has officially launched a brand new retro collection paying homage to one of the most celebrated eras in club history: the 1992-1995 Dream Team period. Fronted by first-team stars Pedri, Gavi, and Raphinha, the release takes heavy inspiration from the classic home kit worn under legendary manager Johan Cruyff during an era defined by domestic dominance and European glory.
The centerpiece of the capsule is the 1992-95 retro shirt, which recreates the aesthetic of the iconic 1990s Kappa design without Kappa logos. It features traditional wide blaugrana vertical stripes, an authentic spread polo collar, and an all-over tonal jacquard pattern woven into the fabric. As an in-house club production rather than an official Kappa reissue, the original manufacturer branding and sleeve tape have been replaced with a stylish cursive "Barça" script on the chest and repeated along the sleeves.
Complementing the jersey, the retro capsule also includes matching blue shorts with branded side striping, an 1899 striped knitted sweater, and period-inspired socks, alongside optional #10 printing on the back of the shirt.
The Barcelona 1992-95 retro collection is available now exclusively through the official Barça online store and physical club shops, with the flagship shirt priced at €69.99.