Transfer Update: Shirt numbers available for imminent Man City signing Nico Gonzalez revealed

Manchester City are closing in on the signing of one of Europe’s top midfielders, but what shirt number could Nico Gonzalez wear upon his expected arrival at the Etihad Stadium?

After intense negotiations, City and FC Porto have reportedly agreed on a deal for the 23-year-old Spaniard. With City failing to secure a loan move for Juventus’ Douglas Luiz without an obligatory purchase clause, the club opted to invest heavily in a top-tier alternative—leading them to Gonzalez.

Porto held firm on their €60 million valuation, but City structured an offer to meet their demands.

Now, as Gonzalez prepares for his medical and official unveiling, the question arises—what squad number will he take?

His current number at Porto, 16, is unavailable, as it belongs to Rodri. Similarly, his Valencia loan spell number, 17, is taken by Kevin De Bruyne, and his Barcelona B number, 6, is currently worn by Nathan Aké.

However, the number 14 shirt, which Gonzalez wore at Barcelona, is up for grabs following Aymeric Laporte’s departure to Saudi Arabia last summer. Another potential option is 28, which he briefly wore for Barcelona and is also currently available at City.

Other unclaimed numbers include 12, 13, 15, 21, 29, and 30, as well as several higher squad numbers. The number 23 remains retired in honor of Marc-Vivien Foé, who tragically passed away while playing for Cameroon in 2003.

As City fans eagerly await Gonzalez’s unveiling, his choice of number could be a subtle hint at the role he envisions for himself in Pep Guardiola’s midfield setup.