Joao Cancelo Is Man City's New Number 7 - Reminiscent Of Gallas 10 at Arsenal
Manchester City right wing-back Joao Cancelo will wear the number 7 shirt - usually reserved for out and out attackers - from the 22-23 season onwards, vacating his number 27 after former number 7 Raheem Sterling left the club for Chelsea.
Joao Cancelo Switches to 7
Players changing shirt numbers is a fairly regular occurrence, with the most coveted being numbers 1-11. This stems from the old days when players didn't have designated numbers and the starting players on each matchday would wear the shirt corresponding to their position. Although we now have fixed squad numbers, players are still usually keen to get their hands on "first team" numbers when available.
Cancelo chose the 27 jersey (his birthday is May 27th) when he joined City from Juventus in 2019, with the number 2 - most commonly associated with right-backs - already taken by Kyle Walker. With Raheem Sterling now gone to Chelsea, Cancelo has joined the single digit club by snagging the number 7 shirt.
This has raised a few eyebrows thanks to the shirt's association with forwards and right wingers. Cancelo plays most often as a right back, so for some people this change feels wrong, but in his defence he is also an excellent attacker and could easily play in a solely attacking role. The tag of "right-back" means that for the purists he should be wearing the number 2, or at a push, either 3,4,5 or 6, which were traditionally defender's numbers, although he has also worn 7 in the past for both Inter and Valencia.
Gallas the Trendsetter?
Cancelo has a predecessor in this regard, someone who flouted the unwritten shirt number rules much more flagrantly. French centre back, William Gallas, was infamously allowed to have the number 10 shirt at Arsenal when he made the move from Stamford Bridge in 2006. A talented defender, sure, but one not known for his attacking prowess. Manager at the time, Arsene Wenger, explained the decision to give him the playmaker/striker's number:
"Number three was uncomfortable for him and I had given the rest of the numbers out. In the end I thought it might be a good idea to give the number ten to a defender, because a striker would suffer a lot with the comparison with Dennis (Bergkamp). At first I was reluctant to give Dennis's number out, and especially to a defender, but overall I think it's better that way."
Gallas was made club captain in 2007 and scored an impressive six goals in Arsenal's 08-09 Champions League campaign, although his time at the club was marred somewhat by off and on-field controversies. Cancelo, on the other hand, seems a consummate professional and has proved very consistent for City after a slightly difficult start.
Do you think the number 7 shirt is a good fit for Cancelo? Let us know in the comments.
FC Barcelona 27-28 Home Kit Leaked - 2 Real Images
Footy Headlines can leak two real images of the new Barcelona 27-28 home kit. However, these still appear to be products created based on a previous concept. They have an accuracy of about 80% and will differ slightly from the final version.
Deportivo Cali 1965 First Title Commemorative Kits Released
Colombian club Deportivo Cali and their technical sponsor Hillside have launched a special-edition capsule celebrating the club's historic first league championship won in 1965. The release consists of two retro-inspired jerseys — one in green and another in white — that pay tribute to the monumental title won over six decades ago.
Both shirts embrace a classic mid-60s aesthetic, anchored by an open polo-style collar. The green shirt features a contrasting white collar and cuffs, complemented by a tonal sublimated pattern of stripes, pennants, and historic club insignia across the fabric. In turn, the white version offers a clean, elegant look highlighted by rich emerald green trim. On the collar ribbing, knit detailing spells out "19 CAMPEÓN 65" in tribute to the landmark campaign.
Each jersey is adorned with a vintage Deportivo Cali crest topped by a single embroidered golden star representing that maiden triumph. Additional commemorative touches include a retro script Hillside graphic at the lower back and a stitched authentic crest patch near the hem displaying "Cali - Un Amor para toda la Vida 1912". The limited-edition pieces are delivered in custom collector's packaging alongside a certificate of authenticity.
BG Pathum United 26-27 20th Anniversary Kit Released
Thai League side BG Pathum United have officially released a special 20th anniversary kit for the 26-27 season. Produced by Nike and launched under the club's "Side by Side" campaign, the commemorative shirt celebrates two decades since the team was originally founded in 2006 as Bangkok Glass FC, reviving the historic green color from the club's early years.
The Nike BGPU 26-27 20th anniversary shirt combines a vibrant green base with contrasting black accents on the crew neck collar and sleeve cuffs, flanked by white side panels. It features clean monochrome white applications throughout, including the club crest, the Nike Swoosh, and the front sponsor. Two variations of the jersey are available: the domestic Thai League version featuring Leo branding on the chest, and an AFC Champions League Two version with Singha Corporation and a Thai flag detail on the sleeve.
White shorts and white socks complete the throwback look. The BG Pathum United 26-27 20th anniversary kit is now on sale through the club's official online shop and at the BGPU Mega Store, priced at 999 THB for the standalone jersey. The club has also made a limited "Side by Side" collector's boxset available for 2,000 THB, containing two shirts, two commemorative scarves, and a sticker sheet.
