New Shirt Numbers for City’s Key Players
Elliot Anderson has been handed one of the heaviest shirts in the squad. The new signing will wear No.5 this season – the number vacated by club great John Stones, who left in the summer after a decade, 20 trophies and a place in City folklore.
It is a shirt with history stitched into it. Stones turned it into a symbol of composure and modern defending, while before him the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Sylvain Distin, Andy Morrison, Paul Power and Tommy Booth all carried it into battle. Anderson steps straight into that lineage, and into the expectations that come with it.
Guéhi switches to a familiar number
At the heart of defence, Marc Guéhi has moved into the No.6 shirt. The England international joined in January and wore No.15 as City swept to Carabao Cup and FA Cup glory in the 2025/26 campaign. Now he takes over the number left behind by Nathan Aké.
For Guéhi, it is more than a simple change. No.6 was his constant at Crystal Palace across five seasons, a number he grew into as he established himself in the Premier League. He now brings that identity with him into a City side looking to refresh its core.
Donnarumma takes the gloves – and No.1
In goal, there is a new figure wearing the most traditional number of all. Gianluigi Donnarumma has been confirmed as City’s No.1, inheriting the shirt from James Trafford, who completed a permanent move to Leeds last week.
It is a number that echoes through the club’s past. Frank Swift, Bert Trautmann, Joe Corrigan, Tony Coton, Joe Hart – all giants of their eras, all guardians of the same digit. Donnarumma joins that roll call with a formidable résumé of his own.
He wore No.25 last season, but No.1 is familiar territory. He is Italy’s first-choice goalkeeper and wears the same number for the national team. He also had it in his final season at PSG, a campaign that ended with Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, the Trophée des Champions and the UEFA Champions League all secured.
Rulli returns to his roots with 28
There is another new face in the goalkeeping department. Gerónimo Rulli, whose arrival was confirmed earlier today, will wear No.28.
For Rulli, the choice carries a personal touch. No.28 was the shirt he started his professional journey with at Estudiantes de La Plata, the number under which he first made his name. Now it marks the beginning of a new chapter in Manchester.
With Anderson at 5, Guéhi at 6, Donnarumma at 1 and Rulli at 28, the spine of City’s squad has been renumbered. The shirts are ready. The question now is how quickly this new core can turn those numbers into the next era of silverware.
