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.
Outstanding CP Cacereño 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Spanish club CP Cacereño and new kit supplier Hummel have officially unveiled the team's new home and away kits for the 26-27 season. Marking the beginning of their technical partnership, Hummel has created two distinct custom designs heavily inspired by local culture and mythology.
The CP Cacereño 26-27 home kit features a rich green base dominated by an intricate graphic depicting dragon scales across the front panel. The design links directly to the club's release slogan, "No soy un futbolista, soy un dragón". White detailing is applied to the classic collar, sleeve cuffs, Hummel chevrons, and sponsor logos to complete the jersey.
The 26-27 away kit presents a half-and-half split layout featuring a white base paired with an orange front panel. The bottom portion of the shirt highlights a graphic illustration of the historic fortress walls of Cáceres alongside dragon tail motifs, finished with fine black detailing along the V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs.
Samsunspor 26-27 Home Kit Released
Turkish Süper Lig club Samsunspor has officially launched its new striped home kit for the 26-27 season, produced by Hummel.
The Hummel Samsunspor 26-27 home jersey features vertical red stripes over a white base, paired with plain white sleeves accented by red sleeve cuffs. A red polo collar with white edge piping and a red V-neck inset gives the shirt a classic look, while iconic white Hummel chevrons rest on the shoulders.
The reverse side of the shirt incorporates a white back panel for player names and numbers, framed by red stripe details at the top and bottom hem, along with red Samsunspor lettering printed on the upper back. The kit is now officially available for pre-order.
Lazio End Polymarket Shirt Sponsorship Deal After Italian Regulatory Block
SS Lazio's front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with prediction market platform Polymarket has come to an abrupt end just months after being announced. The multi-year agreement, signed in April 2026 and valued at over 20 million euros, faced immediate trouble following regulatory action in Italy. The Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) placed Polymarket on its blacklist, classifying the platform as an unlicensed gambling operator and blocking domain access nationwide.
Following the ban, Lazio removed all Polymarket branding from their official website, club store, and team kits. The Biancocelesti took the field with blank kit fronts during their recent 26-27 pre-season friendly against Avellino. This rapid disappearance comes shortly after the club had finally resolved a three-year shirt sponsor drought that dated back to the end of the 22-23 season.
Reports indicate that Lazio and Polymarket are now negotiating an economic resolution to terminate the partnership. A financial settlement will allow the club to clear any contractual obligations and seek a replacement main sponsor before the 26-27 Serie A season kicks off.
More Affordable PSG Jordan Wings Collection to Launch with 26-27 Fourth Kit
Paris Saint-Germain and Jordan Brand are set to bring back the popular Wings concept for their 26-27 fourth kit and lifestyle line in January 2027. Following the success of the original luxury collection, the upcoming Wings 2.0 release will return with a fresh visual approach while taking strong inspiration from urban fashion culture.
As per @lasource75006, a key change for the new collection is a more accessible pricing structure compared to the high-end first edition.
Under the theme Greatness from Greater Paris, the new capsule broadens its story beyond central Paris to represent the entire metropolitan region. The 26-27 fourth jersey itself is expected to feature a white base with black wing accents across the shoulders, reversing the color scheme of the previous navy and white design.
Boca Juniors 26-27 Home Kit Spotted on Sale Early
The upcoming Adidas Boca Juniors 26-27 home kit has already landed on store shelves ahead of its official launch. Pictures taken inside an Adidas store in New York confirm that the authentic player version jersey is currently on sale for $160 USD. Thanks to @marto_m3.
The 26-27 home shirt stays true to the club's traditional look, featuring a classic blue base highlighted by the iconic yellow chest stripe. Bright yellow detailing covers the collar trim, Adidas logo, and three stripes along the shoulders. Sponsor logos include Betsson across the yellow chest band, Cetrogar on the sleeves, and DirecTV on the lower back, while XENEIZE is printed in yellow on the upper back neck.
KV Mechelen 26-27 Home Kit Released
Belgian Pro League club KV Mechelen have officially unveiled their new 2026-27 home kit. Made by Erreà, the shirt celebrates the club's historic 1946 league title.
The Erreà KV Mechelen 2026-27 home shirt features a wide central yellow panel framed by bold red side panels and sleeves. Yellow trim appears on the crew-neck collar and sleeve cuffs, while the club crest is positioned centrally on the chest alongside the Erreà logo and sponsor, creating a clean and balanced look. The kit is completed with black shorts and matching socks featuring yellow and red detailing.
What do you think of KV Mechelen's new 2026-27 home kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Galatasaray 26-27 Fourth Kit Leaked
Based on the leaked images, @Formaholic has recreated the new Galatasaray 26-27 fourth kit concept to show what it could look like on the pitch.
The Puma Galatasaray 26-27 fourth shirt features alternating red and orange vertical stripes across the front and sleeves, complemented by an elegant red polo collar. A white Puma cat logo sits on the right chest, while the club's iconic crest complete with its four stars rests on the left. The classic color setup and tailored collar create a refined look that bridges historical heritage with modern sportswear.
The new Galatasaray 26-27 fourth jersey is expected to be officially launched in February 2027. It will complement the club's home, away, and third kits for the season, offering a classic striped option during the second half of the campaign.
AS Roma 26-27 Away Kit Spotted On Sale Early
The unreleased Adidas AS Roma 26-27 away kit has been spotted available for purchase early inside a Sports Direct store. X user @nftotti shared a photo of the jersey on display well ahead of its scheduled official launch.
The kit features an 'Ecru' (off-white) base color, a red and yellow horizontal chest band, and an old Roma logo from 1945-1949, complemented by the Adidas Trefoil.
This early in-store sighting provides a complete look at the final retail version of the kit, featuring Adidas Climacool technology branding at the lower hem. AS Roma and Adidas are set to officially launch the 26-27 away kit on August 8.
