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.
VVV-Venlo 26-27 Home Kit Released
Netherlands second-division side VVV-Venlo have officially unveiled their 2026-27 home kit, made by Swedish sportswear brand Craft.
The new jersey features a clean and classic design in the club's traditional yellow and black colors, reflecting the identity of both the club and the city of Venlo.
The VVV-Venlo 2026-27 home kit will be available from Monday, July 6, 2026, through the club's official physical and online fanshops.
What do you think of the new VVV-Venlo 2026-27 home kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Leipzig 26-27 Away Kit Leaked - 5 New Images
The leaked RB Leipzig 2026–27 away kit features a bold red base with yellow logos and trim, plus a subtle tonal leaf-inspired graphic across the front that may reference the Leipzig Botanical Garden. The striking colorway gives the shirt a distinctive, high-energy look.
Turkish Süper Lig 2026-27 Big Four Kit Fonts Revealed
Following the Turkish Football Federation's decision to abolish the mandatory league-wide Arial font, Turkey's biggest clubs have unveiled their custom typography for the 2026-27 season. Football kits specialist @TheTLdesign has shared the new number fonts that will be adopted by Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, and Trabzonspor, marking a definitive end to the unified font era and giving each club a distinct visual identity on the pitch.
The revealed designs showcase unique approaches for each of the four teams. Galatasaray introduces a modern, angular typeface that answers long-standing supporter requests for a bespoke look, while Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş, and Trabzonspor have also opted for stylized numbers that align with their respective club branding. The move to individualized fonts allows the teams to fully customize the backs of their shirts for both domestic and European competitions.
This shift represents a significant aesthetic upgrade for the Süper Lig. Fans have widely praised the transition away from the generic numbers used in previous years, with many expressing a preference for these unique designs that better reflect the character of Turkey's top football institutions.
No More Nike: Robey KVC Westerlo 26-27 Home Kit Released
KVC Westerlo have officially unveiled the KVC Westerlo 2026-27 home kit. Made by Robey Sportswear, it is the club's first kit since the Dutch brand replaced Nike, ending the American brand's four-year spell as Westerlo's official kit supplier (2022-2026).
The home shirt stays true to Westerlo's traditional yellow and blue colors while celebrating the club's strong bond with its supporters. Unveiled under the slogan 'Designed for you. Worn by you. Because you are Westel' the custom-made design highlights the connection between the club and the Kempen region.
The KVC Westerlo 2026-27 home kit is now available through the club's official online store.
What do you think of the new KVC Westerlo 2026-27 home kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Vinicius Jr Joins Mbappé in Nike Mercurial 2026 Scorpion Boots
Following Kylian Mbappé's recent appearances in the new boots, Vinicius Junior has now also taken the Nike Mercurial Scorpion Pack to the pitch. While Mbappé opts for the Superfly 11 version, Vinicius Junior was spotted wearing the low-cut Vapor 17 model. These special edition boots are completely exclusive to the two superstars for the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup. Big thanks to Bootsclub & @sdmlinks.
The design of the new Nike Mercurial Scorpion Pack is heavily inspired by Nike's iconic 2002 Scorpion campaign. The collection brings the classic aesthetic into the modern era, applying it to the latest generation of Nike's speed boots.
Fans looking to get their hands on the boots will not have to wait long. The Nike Mercurial Scorpion Pack, including both the Superfly 11 and Vapor 17 versions, is scheduled to drop on July 9, 2026.
Doncaster Rovers 2026-27 Away Kits Released
Doncaster Rovers have officially revealed their new 2026-27 away kit for the 26-27 League One campaign. Made by local manufacturer Oxen, the new jerseys feature custom designs that pay tribute to the club's history and the city's engineering heritage.
The Doncaster Rovers 2026-27 away kit is heavily inspired by the iconic Mallard steam locomotive. The design draws its color palette directly from the historic train built in Doncaster, and features a bespoke train ticket swing tag as a special nod to the theme.
