Man City confirm shirt numbers for Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli ahead of Club World Cup

Manchester City have confirmed that their four new signings in the summer transfer window have selected their shirt numbers.

Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders all completed permanent moves to the Citizens prior to the 7.00pm deadline of the first summer window on Tuesday.

All four players have since been named in Pep Guardiola’s travelling 27-man squad to the United States where Man City will endeavour to retain the Club World Cup they won in 2023, this time competing at a newly-expanded 32-team tournament.

Ahead of facing Wydad AC, Al-Ain and Juventus in Group G later this month, Man City have confirmed which numbers will be worn by each of their latest arrivals.

Starting off with left-back Ait-Nouri, who became City’s first signing of the summer on Monday, he has taken the No.21 shirt that was last worn by Sergio Gomez between 2022 and 2024.

However, the ‘21 ‘shirt is undoubtedly most closely associated to legendary playmaker David Silva, who donned it in each of his 10 seasons at the Etihad Stadium between 2010 and 2020.

Cherki, Reijnders emulate City legends with shirt number picks

Goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli was unveiled as a new Man City player on Tuesday afternoon, joining from Chelsea, and he has taken the No.13 shirt which has previously been worn by fellow shot-stoppers Zack Steffen and Willy Caballero, as well as left-back Aleksandar Kolarov in recent years.

French playmaker Cherki was confirmed as a new Citizens player just a few hours after Bettinelli and he will wear the No.29 shirt after completing a £34m transfer from Lyon.

Richard Wright was the last Man City player to wear the 29 jersey before his retirement in 2016, while Citizens supporters will fondly remember winger Shaun Wright-Phillips sporting the same number during his successful first spell at the club between 1999 and 2005.

As for Reijnders, who was announced as City’s fourth new arrival on Wednesday morning, he has chosen the No.4 shirt, which seemingly spells the end for Kalvin Phillips, who is expected to leave the club this summer and had been the previous occupant of that number before heading out on loan to Ipswich Town last season.

Reijnders has regularly sported he No.14 for club and country in his career, but with Nico Gonzalez taking that number in January following his arrival from Porto, the No.4 represents an adequate alternative for the Dutchman, one that was memorably worn by long-serving club captain Vincent Kompany in nine of his 11 seasons at the Etihad.

All four players could be ready to make their debuts for Man City whilst wearing the club’s fresh sky-blue jersey when they take on Wydad AC in their opening Group G fixture at the Club World Cup on June 18.

Written by
Oliver Thomas