Man City squad numbers 2024/25 as famous shirt could be free for Pep Guardiola's next big summer signing

All you need to know about Manchester City’s squad numbers ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Though they may be pointless in the grand scheme of things, squad numbers are very important to footballers and fans alike.

Whether players want iconic numbers to match their position, hold on to an unusual digit for sentimental reasons or actually aren’t bothered at all, there is always interest over who gets what shirt.

Though Manchester City have a relatively small squad compared to most Premier League sides, the vast majority of the most-fancied lower numbers are accounted for.

At present, there are limited options for any new signing Pep Guardiola makes to choose from but, if the club gets their way, at least two sought-after kit numbers will become available in the transfer window.

Everything you need to know about City’s squad number history and the current 2024/25 squad numbers is below.

This page will be updated pending new signing announcements, departures and squad number changes ahead of the forthcoming season.

Photo by Jan Kruger – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

1 –

Previously worn by: Claudio Bravo, Joe Hart, Shay Given, Andreas Isaksson, David James, David Seaman, Peter Schmeichel, Nicky Weaver, Bert Trautmann.

In a strange quirk, City are the only Premier League club not to have a designated No.1 as their three first-team goalkeepers have all chosen different numbers.

Claudio Bravo was the last shot-stopper to wear the traditional number for City.

2 – Kyle Walker

Previously worn by: Micah Richards, Davis Sommeil, Richard Edghhill.

Despite being a typical number for a right back, City have had few high-profile wearers of the jersey over the years. Kyle Walker has worn the shirt since he joined in 2017.

3 – Ruben Dias

Previously worn by: Danilo, Bacary Sagna, Maicon, Wayne Bridge, Michael Ball, Ben Thatcher, Stuart Pearce.

Likewise, No.3 hasn’t exactly been prestigious in City’s history and strangely its previous three holders Danilo, Bacary Sagna and Maicon were all right-backs, rather than left-backs as it’s typically worn by.

Now it’s held by a centre-back in Ruben Dias.

4 – Kalvin Phillips

Previously worn by: Vincent Kompany, Nedum Onuoha, Stephen Jordan, Tuomas Haapala.

Kalvin Phillips is still City’s designated No.4 despite spending the second half of last season on loan at West Ham and looking likely to leave again.

However, his shirt will likely only become up for grabs if he departs permanently.

5 – John Stones

Previously worn by: Pablo Zabaleta, Ousmane Dabo, Andy Morrison, Keith Curle, Colin Hendry, Mick McCarthy.

John Stones switched to the No.5 after his first season in Manchester and has worn it for the past seven years.

6 – Nathan Ake

Previously worn by: Fernando, Joleon Lescott, Michael Johnson, Claudio Reyna, Kevin Horlock, Giuseppe Mazzarelli.

Nathan Ake has been City’s No.6 ever since his move from Bournemouth in 2020.

7 – Joao Cancelo

Previously worn by: Raheem Sterling, James Milner, Stephen Ireland, Darren Huckerby, Giorgi Kinkladze, Brian Kidd, Glyn Pardoe, Francis Lee.

The iconic No.7 is usually reserved for rapid wingers and exciting forwards but full-back Joao Cancelo got his hands on it following Raheem Sterling’s departure in 2022.

Sadly, Cancelo’s City career fell off a cliff a few months later after a falling out with Guardiola led to him joining Bayern Munich on loan and then Barcelona last season.

The Portugesse is still contracted to City until 2027 and the club want to move him on but may have to resort to yet another loan.

Cancelo’s famous shirt could be allocated to someone else but probably only will if he leaves on a permanent basis.

8 – Mateo Kovacic

Previously worn by: Ilkay Gundogan, Samir Nasri, David Puzarro, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Geovanni, Joey Barton, Robbie Fowler, Peter Reid, Trevor Francis, Martin O’Neil, Colin Bell, Mike Doyle, Mike Summerbee, Denis Law.

Mateo Kovacic not only replaced departed captain Ilkay Gundogan in midfield following his move from Chelsea in 2023 but also took up his No.8 shirt.

9 – Erling Haaland

Previously worn by: Gabriel Jesus, Nolito, Emmanuel Adebayor, Valeri Bozhinov, Emile Mpenza, Andy Cole, Paulo Wanchope, Paul Dickov, Niall Quinn.

Other than Niall Quinn, City had bad luck with No.9s over the years but Erling Haaland has more than made up for it with a remarkable 90 goals in 98 games wearing the shirt.

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

10 – Jack Grealish

Previously worn by: Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Robinho, Rolando Bianchi, Sjamel Abdoun, Antoine Sibierski, Shaun Goater, Garry Flitcroft.

Jack Grealish immediately took up the mantle of the No.10 shirt upon joining the club after Sergio Aguero had left it free by joining Barcelona.

11 – Jeremy Doku

Previously worn by: Aleks Zinchenko, Aleksandar Kolarov, Scott Sinclair, David Ball, Elano, Darius Vassell.

City hadn’t had a winger wear No.11 since Scott Sinclair in 2013, with two left-backs wearing it in the years since, but Jeremy Doku changed that after his move from Rennes in 2023.

12 –

Previously worn by: Angelino, Scott Sinclair, Stuart Taylor, Darius Vassell, Nicky Weaver, Andrey Kanchelskis.

The No.12 shirt has been free since Angelino left in 2020.

13 –

Previously worn by: Zack Steffen, Willy Baballero, Aleksandar Kolarov, Christian Negouai.

Typically a number for backup goalkeepers, Zack Steffen wore No.13 last.

14 –

Previously worn by: Aymeric Laporte, Wilfried Bony, Javi Garcia, Roque Santa Cruz, Jo, Paul Dickov, Kiki Musampa, Eyal Berkovic, Gareth Taylor, Kit Symons.

The No.14 is probably the best squad number available for any potential signings this summer.

A desired number thanks to its association with attacking forces like Johan Cruyff and Thierry Henry, it was actually last worn by a defender at City in Aymeric Laporte.

15 –

Previously worn by: Eliaquim Mangala, Jesus Navas, Stefan Savic, Javier Garrido, Martin Petrov, Sylvain Distin, Alf-Inge Haaland.

No.15 has been available since 2019 but no one has fancied donning it yet.

16 – Rodri

Previously worn by: Sergio Aguero, Sylvinho, Kasper Schmeichel, Verdan Corluka, Nedum Onuoha, Paul Ritchie.

A shirt which will ever be iconic thanks to Aguero’s Premier League-winning strike against QPR, Rodri has arguably taken No.16 to even greater heights with his Champions League final winner.

Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images

17 – Kevin De Bruyne

Previously worn by: Jack Rodwell, Michael Johnson, Jerome Boateng, Martin Petrov, Jijai Sun.

Kevin De Bruyne has worn No.17 since he moved to the Etihad in 2015 and is its best wearer by some distance.

18 – Stefan Ortega

Previously worn by: Fabian Delph, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, Andrew Tutte, Danny Mills.

Despite No.1 being free, Stefan Ortega opted to pick the unusual-for-a-goalkeeper number of 18 when he arrived in 2022.

19 – Julian Alvarez

Previously worn by: Leroy Sane, Karim Rekik, Sami Nasri, Joleon Lescott, Gelson Fernandes, Albert Riera, Danny Tiatto.

Julian Alvarez has made the No.19 his own since occupying the jersey in 2022.

20 – Bernardo Silva

Previously worn by: Eliaquim Mangala, Owen Hargreaves, Felipe Caicedo, Georgios Samaras, Hussein Yasser, Steve McManaman, Carlo Nash.

No.20 has had some notable wearers over the years but it’s now a number mainly associated with Bernardo Silva at City.

21 – Sergio Gomez

Previously worn by: Ferran Torres, David Silva, Dietmar Hamann, Ronald Waterreus,.

Sergio Gomez is the third Spaniard in succession to don No.21 but he hasn’t reached anywhere near the heights of David Silva or even Sergio Gomez. He may depart this summer.

22 –

Previously worn by: Gael Clichy, Greg Cunningham, Richard Dunne, George Weah.

No.22 has been available since 2023.

23 – Retired

Previously worn by: Marc-Vivien Foe, Paul Wanchope

The No.23 was retired at City in honour of the late Marc-Vivien Foe, who died while on loan at the club during an international match for Cameroon in 2003.

24 – Josko Gvardiol

Previously worn by: Tosin Adarabioyo, John Stones, Nedum Onuoha, Patrick Vieira, Javier Garrido, DaMarcus Beasley.

A favourite of centre-backs over the last decade, Josko Gvardiol is the latest defender to wear No.24 but might fancy a swap to No.4 if it becomes available this summer.

Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images

25 – Manuel Ajkanji

Previously worn by: Fernandinho, Joe Hart, Emmanuel Adebayor, Wayne Bridge, Geert De Vlieger, Arni Arason.

No.25 wasn’t free for long after Fernandinho’s departure as Manuel Akanji soon gobbled it up and has lived up to the billing of its previous occupier.

26 –

Previously worn by: Riyad Mahrez, Martin Demichelis, David Gonzalez, Tal Ben Haim, Paul Bosvelt, Tyrone Mears.

Riyad Mahrez wore No.26 during the length of his five-year stint at the Etihad Stadium.

27 – Matheus Nunes

Previously worn by: Joao Cancelo, Patrick Roberts, Jo, Benjani, Hatem Trabelsi, Mikkel Bischoff.

Cancelo’s number before swapping to No.7, fellow Portugesse Matheus Nunes now holds No.27.

28 –

Previously worn by: Jason Denayer, Kolo Toure, Daniel Strurridge, Trevor Sinclair, Uew Rosler.

Free since 2018.

29 –

Previously worn by: Richard Wright, Kelvin Etuhu, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Free since 2016.

30 –

Previously worn by: Nicolas Otamendi, Costel Pantilimon, Shay Logan, Nery Castillo.

Last worn by Nicolas Otamendi in 2021.

31 – Ederson

Previously worn by: Adam Clayton, Jonathan D’Laryea, Djamel Belmadi, Laurent Charvet.

Ederson could have moved to No.1 years ago but has always opted to stick with his No.31 instead.

32 – Maximo Perrone

Previously worn by: Daniel Grimshaw, Carlos Tevez, Mikheil Kavelashvili.

Young midfielder Maximo Perrone was assigned No.32 after arriving from Velez Sarsfield. Carlos Teves is the most famous wearer of the shirt.

33 – Scott Carson

Previously worn by: Gabriel Jesus, Matija Nastasic, Vincent Kompany.

The third goalkeeper not to take No.1, at least it makes a bit of sense for third-choice Scott Carson not to do so.

37 – Kayky

Previously worn by: Gunnar Nielsen.

Likely soon to be outshined by the Savio, Kayky was given No.37 after his exciting arrival but he has yet to play for the club and has spent the two years since on loan in Portugal and Brazil.

47 – Phil Foden

Previously worn by: Luke Brattan.

Despite being offered the No.10 shirt, Phil Foden has always opted to stick with his beloved No.47.

That’s because the number is in honour of his late grandad, Ronnie, who died at the age of 47. He also has it tattooed on his neck.

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

52 – Oscar Bobb

Previously worn by: Emyr Huews, Alex Nimely.

Oscar Bobb broke onto the scene last season with some key contributions and may be looking for a number upgrade to reflect his growing importance in the squad.

56 – Jacob Wright

Previously worn by: CJ Egan-Riley, Courtney Meppen-Walter.

Youngster Jacon Wright made his debut last season wearing No.56.

76 – Mahammadou Susoho

Previously worn by: Manu Garcia.

Mahammadou Sushoho was named on the bench several times last year and got one 15-minute cameo. He is currently No.76.

82 – Rico Lewis

Previously worn by: Adrian Bernabe.

Teenage sensation Rico Lewis has been a regular in Guardiola’s squad for two years now yet hasn’t moved down from his No.82 as of yet.

87 – James McAtee

Previously worn by: N/A

James McAtee’s City future looks uncertain after spending the last two years out on loan but he still has No.87 for now.

92 – Micah Hamilton

Previously worn by: N/A.

Exciting winger Micah Hamilton impressed, and even got his first goal, in his few cameos last season and will be hoping for even more chances this time around.