Everton have released information about squad numbers ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign, with a few notable players electing to switch, as reported by Liverpool Echo.
Over the course of the past few weeks, the Toffees have revealed the numbers that will be worn by new signings, with Jonas Lossl confirmed to take 49 and Andre Gomes claiming 21, while Fabian Delph has picked up the squad number that Gomes wore last season, number 8.
Moise Kean will wear 27, JP Gbamin will have 25 and Djibril Sidibe will wear 19, while Deadline Day signing Alex Iwobi will keep the number he wore for Arsenal, 17.
However as well as new signings, some other players in Marco Silva’s squad have switched their number for the new season.
Richarlison has ditched his 30 shirt for a more starting line-up type number 7, last worn by Yannick Bolasie prior to his loan spells. Michael Keane meanwhile has swapped 4 for 5, with the latter the number he previously wore for Burnley, now vacant after Kurt Zouma’s departure.
But perhaps most notably, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has claimed the fabled number 9 shirt, which has been occupied by on-loan Sandro Ramirez for the past few seasons.
Twitter: Everton squad Numbers 2019/20 https://t.co/MOzvlrHi29 (@ALANMYERSMEDIA)
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I must admit I’m chuffed to see DCL take on the number 9 shirt ahead of the new season. One can only imagine that the forward has the backing of Marco Silva if he has been allowed to swap 29 for such a historic option, and he has a low bar to climb over if you’re into comparing him to the previous occupant.
Meanwhile Richarlison will hopefully break the curse that has seemingly been placed on number 7. Yannick Bolasie suffered an injury that effectively ruined his Everton career in that number, while Nikica Jelavic suffered second season syndrome in it. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov also struggled to kick-on in the 7 shirt.
Keane’s switch is interesting, and I can only assume he ditched 4 for 5 because he is fond of the number he once wore. I’m not superstitious when it comes to numbers, but if Keane’s form drastically declines this season I’m definitely blaming it on this decision.
