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.
England 2026 World Cup Match Boots Stolen in Kansas City
The England national team has suffered a major setback ahead of their 2026 World Cup campaign, as the match boots of several top players were stolen from a transport van. The incident, first reported by Craig Hope and Jack Gaughan for the Daily Mail, has left the squad's staff scrambling to secure replacements before their first training session in Kansas City on Saturday.
In addition to the players' custom footwear, the thieves also made off with nearly all of the team's training footballs, reportedly leaving just a single ball behind. The logistical nightmare means kit managers and equipment staff must now work rapidly with their respective brands to supply the squad with new boots in time for their opening matches of the tournament.
Awesome: Leeds United 26-27 Home Kit Concept Based on Leaked Bayern München Away Kit
A stylish Leeds United home kit concept has caught the attention of fans online. Created by Leeds supporter and graphic designer @ZK1919, the concept directly adapts the design of an Adidas FC Bayern away kit, transforming it into a Leeds home shirt.
The concept features the classic Adidas Trefoil logo and integrates Leeds United's front-of-shirt sponsor, Red Bull. To match the club's traditional colors, the designer swapped the original red accents for yellow and outlined the Red Bull logo in blue. The concept also sparked discussions among supporters regarding the exact shade of yellow, the choice of the club badge, and the potential constraints of Red Bull's corporate branding rules on future kits.
While purely a fan-made design and not an official leak for the 2026-27 season, it highlights the potential of an Adidas Trefoil Leeds kit. The actual Leeds United 26-27 home kit has been very unpopular ahead of its release.
Bayern München 26-27 Away Slides Leaked
We can leak images of Adidas Bayern München slides, revealing a design mirroring by the club's upcoming away kit.
The slides feature a white base and a textured strap showcasing the traditional FC Bayern München e.V. crest. As 2026-27 away kit's color palette, the strap is accented with Adidas' signature three stripes in a distinct navy, red, and navy combination.
2026 World Cup Sleeve Patches Guide Revealed
FIFA is introducing an updated sleeve patch system for all national teams competing in the 2026 World Cup. Now, an official document confirms which kit goes with which kit.
The seven former World Cup-winning nations will wear exclusive gold-themed patches on their right sleeves, while the rest of the teams will use standard black-and-white versions. Additionally, the left sleeve patch will update dynamically, changing for every matchday during the group stage and continuing to update for each knockout round from the round of 32 through to the final.
