Man Utd
United Confirm Rashford’s No. 9 as Shirt List Settles
United confirm Rashford’s No. 9 as several squad numbers are finalised across the first-team list.
Manchester United have removed the uncertainty around Marcus Rashford’s status by formally assigning him the club’s vacant No. 9 shirt. The decision strongly suggests the forward remains part of the plans at Old Trafford, with the number now confirmed for the season after Rasmus Højlund’s move to Napoli opened it up.
Rashford had already been using the No. 9 in preseason, but the club had not yet made the allocation official. He was also listed without a shirt number in the matchday programme for Saturday’s meeting with Hull City, adding to the speculation before the confirmation arrived.
The reshuffle extends beyond Rashford. Senne Lammens has taken the No. 1 shirt, which was left available by Altay Bayındır’s loan to Celta Vigo this summer. Lammens had previously worn No. 31, but that number has now gone to 19-year-old attacking midfielder Shea Lacey, who moves up from 46.
Several of United’s new arrivals now also have their numbers in place. Karl Darlow will wear 12, Andrey Santos has been given 17, Youri Tielemans takes 18 and Tynan Thompson has been allocated 27.
At the other end of the squad list, 15-year-old JJ Gabriel has been handed No. 77. He already made a preseason appearance that made him the youngest player to ever represent United, although that match does not count as the official record. If Gabriel features before Oct. 25, he will become the club’s youngest player on record.
A few numbers remain unassigned, with one expected to go to midfielder Carlos Baleba once his move from Brighton & Hove Albion is completed. His preferred 17 has already been taken, though he has recently worn 20 and 24.
United’s squad list now looks more settled, with the No. 9 confirmation the clearest sign yet of Rashford’s place in the new campaign.
Hull City
Amad Diallo absent as United begin Hull City clash with injury setback
Amad Diallo missed out for United against Hull, with injury and late fitness issues forcing changes.
Manchester United were forced to reshuffle before Saturday’s Premier League opener against Hull City after Amad Diallo was not named in the matchday squad.
The winger was missing when the team arrived, and his absence opened the door for Bryan Mbeumo to come in alongside Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu in the forward line. Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Šeško and Joshua Zirkzee were all named among the substitutes.
United’s starting XI was listed as: Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Santos, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Dorgu; Cunha.
The bench read: Darlow, Dalot, Martínez, Yoro, Mainoo, Lacey, Rashford, Šeško, Zirkzee.
Before the match, Carrick’s squad update on Friday did not include any reference to a problem for Amad. That changed on Saturday, when Rob Dawson reported that the player was sidelined because of injury. No further details have been made available.
Amad is one of four players unavailable for the fixture. Veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton and center back Matthijs de Ligt were also ruled out, while Mason Mount failed a late fitness test after suffering a knock in preseason.
Carrick had previously made clear that Mount still had a chance of being involved, describing his status as “touch and go,” but the midfielder was ultimately not considered fit enough to take part. With Amad out and Mount also missing, United’s attacking options were altered again on the opening day.
Arsenal
Ten Premier League Signings That May Have Gone Under the Radar
A closer look at the quieter Premier League transfers that have slipped past many observers.
Premier League clubs have already committed huge sums this summer, with the division’s spending said to have reached about $3 billion. Yet some of the moves have barely registered amid the wider noise of the 2026/27 season getting under way.
One of the quieter deals saw Arsenal add Illan Meslier on a free transfer. Once viewed as a major prospect at Leeds United, the French goalkeeper arrives after a difficult spell in which mistakes pushed him down to third choice. He did not play a minute last season, and he is expected to provide cover for David Raya alongside Kepa Arrizabalaga.
João Gomes also changed clubs without quite commanding the same attention as some of the bigger deals. After being linked with Manchester United and Atlético Madrid, he moved from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Aston Villa in a $46 million transfer completed the day after the World Cup final. The midfielder offers energy and force rather than creativity.
Bournemouth continued their pattern of shrewd recruitment by signing Álvaro Rodríguez, an ex-Real Madrid striker who produced seven goals and five assists for Elche in 2025/26. The 22-year-old adds depth as Bournemouth balance domestic and European commitments.
Brentford turned to Callum Wilson on a free transfer after West Ham United’s relegation. The 34-year-old scored seven league goals last season, all while starting only 11 matches, and now sits behind Igor Thiago in Keith Andrews’s plans.
Chelsea added Pep Chavarría for $21.6 million from Rayo Vallecano, while Crystal Palace brought in Takehiro Tomiyasu on a free after his injury-hit spell at Arsenal and brief time with Ajax. Everton also strengthened with Christian Nørgaard, who left Arsenal after helping them win the Premier League title.
Manchester United moved for free agent Karl Darlow as backup to Senne Lammens after loan exits for André Onana and Altay Bayındır. Newcastle United signed Aladji Bamba for $47 million, and Sunderland added Thomas Meunier in one of their few new arrivals.
Man Utd
Carlos Baleba and the Manchester United shirt numbers in play
Baleba could arrive at United, but his preferred shirt numbers are already in use or still open.
Manchester United may soon add Carlos Baleba as their fourth first-team signing of the summer, with talks with Brighton & Hove Albion said to be moving forward after an opening bid of $88.6 million (£65 million).
Baleba enjoyed a breakout 2024-25 campaign before a quieter 2025-26 season, but he still looks like the kind of defence-minded midfielder Michael Carrick’s squad has been missing. Even with Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans already through the door, he would add the balance United were targeting in the centre of the pitch.
That need is part of a wider summer plan that has already brought in backup goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer, while the U-21 group has also been strengthened by winger Tynan Thompson, goalkeeper Kit Margetson and midfielder Cristian Orozco. United went into the window needing three midfield additions and may yet finish it having done exactly that.
If Baleba does arrive, the shirt situation becomes more interesting. He has worn 17 for Brighton and Cameroon, although that number was free at United before being given to Santos last month. Another option is 20, which he used at Brighton and is still open in Manchester. He also wore 35 at Lille and took 24 at the most recent Africa Cup of Nations, though that shirt would need to be taken from André Onana, who is on loan at Trabzonspor for a second season.
United’s current number list leaves a few possibilities, but also some complications. Marcus Rashford has worn 9 in preseason yet remains unassigned officially, while he had been linked with 14 after his loan spell at Barcelona. Joshua Zirkzee is still a possible departure, which could free up 11 if he moves on, with Juventus still linked to a loan.
For now, the numbering picture remains unsettled, even as United edge closer to another significant signing.
