There will be plenty of upheaval at Chelsea this summer, with big-name outgoings and signings expected in equal measure.
Defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen have both headed for pastures new at the end of their respective contracts, while Romelu Lukaku has sealed a sensational return to Inter on a season-long loan – freeing up the ‘cursed’ number nine shirt. Loanee Saul Niguez has also headed back to Atletico Madrid following a largely unsuccessful spell in west London.
Inevitably, that means there is going to be a big shakeup when it comes to squad numbers as some are free up and others are taken.
As it stands, here are Chelsea’s squad numbers for the 2022/23 campaign…
Squad numbers subject to change during pre-season.
1 – Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK)
3 – Marcos Alonso
5 – Jorginho
6 – Thiago Silva
7 – N’Golo Kante
8 – Mateo Kovacic
10 – Christian Pulisic
11 – Timo Werner
12 – Ruben Loftus-Cheek
13 – Marcus Bettinelli
14 – Trevoh Chalobah
16 – Edouard Mendy (GK)
18 – Ross Barkley
19 – Mason Mount
20 – Callum Hudson-Odoi
21 – Ben Chilwell
22 – Hakim Ziyech
23 – Kenedy
24 – Reece James
27 – Tino Anjorin
28 – Cesar Azpilicueta
29 – Kai Havertz
31 – Nathan Baxter (GK)
33 – Emerson
38 – Dylan Williams
43 – Xavier Mbuyamba
44 – Ethan Ampadu
54 – Xavier Simons
60 – Teddy Sharman Lowe (GK)
64 – Jude Soonsup-Bell
68 – Harvey Vale
71 – Charlie Webster
75 – Lewis Hall
Players without squad numbers: Conor Gallagher, Matt Miazga, Baba Rahman, Armando Broja, Michy Basthuayi
Although there are plenty available, the most realistic that a new first-team signing might take are…
As long as it is unique within their squad, Premier League players can wear any number between one and 99, although tradition dictates that you will usually see first-teamers donning one to about 30 – barring a few exceptions.
Former Man City midfielder Manu Garcia and Liverpool’s Neco Williams share the record for highest shirt number in Premier League history, with both wearing the number 76 shirt.
Also following tradition, goalkeepers will generally occupy numbers one and 13.
Premier League players cannot wear the number zero – and that’s fair enough because it would be a bit silly.
Premier League players are only allowed to change their squad number during pre-season or if one is sold or loaned to another club in the January transfer window.
Clubs must submit their confirmed squad list – including shirt numbers – by a specified deadline each year, and numbers cannot be changed thereafter. In 2021 that deadline was 1 September.
