Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkee (X)

Anthony Martial was the last footballer to wear the shirt at Manchester United and after his contract expired last month, he had to vacate the number.

Manchester United’s star forward Rasmus Hojlund has been touted to wear a new shirt number for the upcoming football season. As per The United Stand, Hojlund will begin his 2024/25 campaign in a jersey worn by the club’s ex-forward Anthony Martial. The fan page posted an update on X claiming that Hojlund would likely get the number 9 shirt next season. Their post read, “Exclusive! The United Stand understands that Rasmus Hojlund is expected to get the number 9 for Manchester United.” The post even featured a picture of the Danish star who could be seen posing in the Red Devils kit.

Rasmus Hojlund joined Manchester United last summer from Serie A side Atalanta. The deal was worth a reported £64 million paid initially and £8 million in add-ons. The newly signed star was expected to be given the number 17 jersey at the time, the same shirt he wore at Atalanta. The jersey was previously occupied by Fred who eventually departed to Fenerbache. However, the Dane quickly changed his mind after Mason Greenwood’s move to La Liga on loan and made the number 11 his own. Hojlund’s new jersey seemed to fit him rather well as he finished the 2023/24 campaign as Manchester United’s top scorer. He netted an impressive 16 goals in 43 appearances in his debut season.

Just a few days ago, it was also reported that Manchester United’s potential new signing Joshua Zirkee also expects to take up the number 9 shirt at Old Trafford. With the Red Devils closing on the Netherlands international’s signing, Zirkee dropped in a last request, asking for the number 9 shirt at the club. Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg revealed the development on X and wrote, “Joshua Zirkee is already on-site and undergoing his medical with Manchester United…”

“Zirkee hopes to get the jersey with the number 9,” he added.