Southampton will have a new kit manufacturer for the 2024/25 season, with Puma unveiling both the home and away kits at a special event at St Mary’s on Tuesday.
It was at this event that Southampton announced the permanent signing of Flynn Downes from West Ham United after no secret had been made of the fact Russell Martin was desperate to sign last season’s loanee.
The 25-year-old became the club’s seventh signing of a busy start to the summer, joining free signings Adam Lallana and Charlie Taylor, as well as Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Wood and Yukinari Sugawara.
Now the new signings know what kits they will be wearing next season, the next step is finding out what squad number they will be given and here is what number each player could wear.
Southampton summer signings’ potential kit numbers for 2024/25 season
Adam Lallana – 10
Eagle-eyed Southampton fans may have already spotted Adam Lallana’s squad number.
The 36-year-old has returned to his first club a decade after leaving and many expected him to adorn his old number 20 next season.
However, that number is currently occupied by record-signing Kamaldeen Sulemana.
There is a very real possibility that Sulemana could be sold this summer after failing to live up to his price-tag and this could see Lallana reclaim the 20 shirt.
Lallana currently looks to be earmarked for the number ten shirt, though, having been spotted in a pre-season clip wearing training gear sporting the number.
This could be significant, as Che Adams previously wore the number ten and it could mean the club have accepted he will not sign a new deal having become a free agent at the end of June.
Flynn Downes – 4
Downes’ shirt number should be pretty straightforward.
The holding midfielder wore the number four whilst on loan last season and should reprise the shirt for the Premier League next season having also worn the number whilst at Swansea City.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis – 6
Southampton have signed three centre-backs this summer who could all want the same shirt.
However, given he spent last season on loan at the club, Harwood-Bellis may just pull rank over Edwards and Wood.
The number six shirt is currently vacant and, having worn number 21 last season, Harwood-Bellis could opt for the more traditional number next season as he establishes himself in the Premier League.
Ronnie Edwards – 17
Southampton managed to sign the highly-rated Edwards for just £3 million this summer.
The 21-year-old wore number four in his last two seasons at Peterborough United and number two before that.
He will not beat Downes to the four shirt and Kyle Walker-Peters currently has the number two.
Of the numbers currently available, it could be that 17 makes the most sense for Edwards unless he wants to go into the twenties.
Nathan Wood – 15
Wood will also be unable to claim the same number he wore previously, with the number five shirt he donned at Middlesbrough taken by club captain Jack Stephens.
Prior to taking the number five at Boro, he did wear the number 15 shirt and that is currently available at Southampton so this could be what Wood chooses.
Yukinari Sugawara – 2 or 24
Sugawara most recently wore the number two shirt at AZ Alkmaar and this is the traditional number for a right-back.
Whilst this is currently occupied by Walker-Peters, there is continued speculation the 27-year-old could leave this summer.
If that is the case then expect Sugawara to take his number two. If not, he could reprise the number 26 he wore when he first signed for AZ Alkmaar; a number which is available at the Saints.
Southampton will have a new kit manufacturer for the 2024/25 season, with Puma unveiling both the home and away kits at a special event at St Mary’s on Tuesday.
It was at this event that Southampton announced the permanent signing of Flynn Downes from West Ham United after no secret had been made of the fact Russell Martin was desperate to sign last season’s loanee.
The 25-year-old became the club’s seventh signing of a busy start to the summer, joining free signings Adam Lallana and Charlie Taylor, as well as Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Wood and Yukinari Sugawara.
Now the new signings know what kits they will be wearing next season, the next step is finding out what squad number they will be given and here is what number each player could wear.
Southampton summer signings’ potential kit numbers for 2024/25 season
Adam Lallana – 10
Eagle-eyed Southampton fans may have already spotted Adam Lallana’s squad number.
The 36-year-old has returned to his first club a decade after leaving and many expected him to adorn his old number 20 next season.
However, that number is currently occupied by record-signing Kamaldeen Sulemana.
There is a very real possibility that Sulemana could be sold this summer after failing to live up to his price-tag and this could see Lallana reclaim the 20 shirt.
Lallana currently looks to be earmarked for the number ten shirt, though, having been spotted in a pre-season clip wearing training gear sporting the number.
This could be significant, as Che Adams previously wore the number ten and it could mean the club have accepted he will not sign a new deal having become a free agent at the end of June.
Flynn Downes – 4
Downes’ shirt number should be pretty straightforward.
The holding midfielder wore the number four whilst on loan last season and should reprise the shirt for the Premier League next season having also worn the number whilst at Swansea City.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis – 6
Southampton have signed three centre-backs this summer who could all want the same shirt.
However, given he spent last season on loan at the club, Harwood-Bellis may just pull rank over Edwards and Wood.
The number six shirt is currently vacant and, having worn number 21 last season, Harwood-Bellis could opt for the more traditional number next season as he establishes himself in the Premier League.
Ronnie Edwards – 17
Southampton managed to sign the highly-rated Edwards for just £3 million this summer.
The 21-year-old wore number four in his last two seasons at Peterborough United and number two before that.
He will not beat Downes to the four shirt and Kyle Walker-Peters currently has the number two.
Of the numbers currently available, it could be that 17 makes the most sense for Edwards unless he wants to go into the twenties.
Nathan Wood – 15
Wood will also be unable to claim the same number he wore previously, with the number five shirt he donned at Middlesbrough taken by club captain Jack Stephens.
Prior to taking the number five at Boro, he did wear the number 15 shirt and that is currently available at Southampton so this could be what Wood chooses.
Yukinari Sugawara – 2 or 24
Sugawara most recently wore the number two shirt at AZ Alkmaar and this is the traditional number for a right-back.
Whilst this is currently occupied by Walker-Peters, there is continued speculation the 27-year-old could leave this summer.
If that is the case then expect Sugawara to take his number two. If not, he could reprise the number 26 he wore when he first signed for AZ Alkmaar; a number which is available at the Saints.
