Liverpool are reportedly on the verge of completing a £120 million deal for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, with the agreement said to include more than £100 million guaranteed and additional performance-related payments. The 23-year-old French international has been Liverpool’s major attacking target, and reports indicate that only the final formalities remain before the transfer is completed.
One interesting question now is which shirt number Barcola will wear at Anfield.
The obvious option is the No. 11 shirt, which became available following Mohamed Salah’s departure. However, Barcola could choose a different number because he has a strong personal connection with No. 29, the number he currently wears at PSG.
Barcola previously explained that his attachment to No. 29 dates back to playing FIFA when he was younger. The number was associated with Alex Hunter, the fictional character in FIFA’s The Journey mode, and Barcola decided that No. 29 would be his number once he became a professional footballer. He has continued wearing it throughout his career and has said he does not want to give it up.
Fortunately for him, Liverpool’s No. 29 is currently vacant. The last player to wear it was Arthur Melo during his loan spell at the club in the 2022/23 season. Other players who have previously worn No. 29 for Liverpool include Dominic Solanke and Fabio Borini.
Aside from Nos. 29 and 11, several other squad numbers are available, including 13, 16, 17, 24, 26 and 27, as well as numerous higher numbers.
If Barcola chooses No. 29, Liverpool’s famous No. 11 shirt would remain available for another potential signing. This could become particularly interesting because Liverpool are still looking to strengthen their attack before the transfer window closes. Reports suggest the club could pursue another winger, while Cody Gakpo’s future has also become a talking point following the Barcola agreement.
For now, No. 29 looks like the most sentimental choice for Barcola, but Liverpool fans will have to wait for the official announcement to discover which number he ultimately selects.
