Man Utd's No. 7, Chelsea's No. 8 & More - Here Are The Most Important Vacant Premier League Numbers
Sep 24, 2017, by Chris
With the English Premier League season in full swing, we take a look at which iconic numbers are available at the biggest clubs.
Numbers often have a particular importance for players and teams. In example, many clubs decided to retire shirt numbers forever (e.g. AS Roma, who decided not to give No. 10 to any other player than Totti after the club legend retired and Napoli, who won't give Maradona's No. 10 to any other player).
In fact, there are many vacant numbers in Europe's biggest leagues with the exception one one league: Spain's first division. La Liga clubs have to give all of their first teams players numbers between #1 and #25.
Arsenal - No 1
Arsenal's No. 1 shirt has been vacant since Wojciech Szczesny left the club in 2015. Arsenal goalkeepers are currently wearing No. 13 (David Ospina), No. 26 (Emiliano Martinez) and No. 33 (Petr Cech). It seems unlikely that the gap will be filled soon.
Chelsea - No. 8, No. 25
Chelsea's iconic No. 8 shirt has been free since Oscar left the club. It is likely that one of Chelsea's next big signings will get the number used by club legend Lampard for more than a decade.
Chelsea's number 25 shirt has not been allocated to another player since Zola left the club in 2003. It has not been retired, however...
Manchester United - No. 7
Manchester United's number 7 has been the number of some of the club's greatest-ever players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, George Best and David Beckham. Since Cristiano Ronaldo left the club in 2009, there had been four players using Manchester United's iconic No. 7, and all of them rather failed at the club (Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia, Memphis Depay, Angel di Maria ).
An iconic number that was vacant for a few weeks at Manchester United this summer was Rooney's No.10, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic already picked the number 10 shirt as Lukaku previously had received Zlatan's No.9 shirt.
Liverpool - No. 8 (Summer 2015 Until Summer 2018)
What to do with such an iconic number as the one from club legend like Steven Gerrard? While teams such as AS Roma decided to retire the shirt of their likely biggest legend (Totti - No. 10), Liverpool gave Nabi Keita the iconic shirt with number 10 after the number had been vacant for some seasons - big shoes to fill for the midfielder.
Manchester City - No. 6, 9 & 11
Manchester City currently has many traditional numbers free currently after many players left the club. Many of their current top players are wearing relatively high numbers (e.g. Gabriel Jesus #33). It would be no surprise if some of them would follow John Stones' example and switch shirt numbers (John Stones switched from No. 24 to No. 5 after Zabaleta left the club).
Which vacant numbers from clubs from other countries would be worth a mention? Let us know in the comments below.
Unionistas de Salamanca 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Spanish Primera Federación side Unionistas de Salamanca and technical partner Erreà have officially unveiled the club's new home and away kits for the 26-27 season. Staying true to the club's fan-owned ethos, the designs were chosen directly by club members through an open design competition and multi-stage vote.
The Erreà Unionistas de Salamanca 26-27 home shirt stays true to tradition with a half-and-half black and white design, accented by subtle tonal vertical pinstripes across the front. Bright yellow trim details the collar and sleeve cuffs, while the back features a clean white panel with fine pinstripes to host player names and numbers.
Taking a bold and creative direction, the Unionistas 26-27 away jersey features a vibrant pink base that fades into deep navy tones towards the bottom hem. The shirt pays tribute to the local region by subtly embedding the names of all 362 municipalities in the province of Salamanca into the fabric graphic, while sleeve cuffs carry lyrics dedicated to the club's loyal travelling fanbase.
Club Legend Dida Pictured in AC Milan Home Kit
AC Milan legend Nelson Dida has been spotted wearing the club's home kit, bringing a wave of nostalgia to Rossoneri supporters. The legendary Brazilian goalkeeper, who spent a trophy-laden decade at San Siro winning two Champions League titles and a Serie A crown, showed that the classic red and black look fits club icons seamlessly.
The jersey is designed by Puma and marks a return to classic style, featuring traditional thick red-and-black vertical stripes across the body. White sponsor and manufacturer logos complement the iconic colorway, along with refined collar and cuff detailing that blends heritage with modern performance aesthetics.
Seeing Dida sporting an outfield home jersey rather than his familiar goalkeeper attire was a pleasant surprise for fans, highlighting the enduring connection between the club's celebrated history and its modern visual identity.
Valenciennes FC 26-27 Third Kit Released
French club Valenciennes FC and Danish brand Hummel have officially released their new third kit for the 2026-27 season. Completing the club's set of shirts for the campaign, the new release pays homage to the traditional lace-making heritage and textile craftsmanship of Valenciennes and the wider Hainaut region.
The Hummel Valenciennes 26-27 third jersey features a deep blue base highlighted by subtle vertical bands incorporating intricate floral lace graphics. These patterned columns are framed by thin yellow pinstripes, matching the signature Hummel chevrons on the shoulders. A vintage-styled white polo collar and matching sleeve cuffs add contrast, while the club crest and Toyota sponsor logo are rendered in clean white.
Continuing the theme of embedding local identity into their designs—following the home shirt inspired by museum stained glass and the away shirt featuring regional symbols—the Valenciennes FC 26-27 third kit is available now via the club's official online store and physical club shop.
Real Madrid x Farm Rio
We’ve received new information on the Real Madrid x Farm Rio collaboration we previously reported on.
More details coming very soon on Footy Headlines…
