Florian Wirtz Poised to Inherit Rare Liverpool Shirt Number Worn by Just Seven Players

Liverpool are reportedly closing in on the high-profile signing of Florian Wirtz, with the German star poised to swap Bayer Leverkusen for Anfield in a stunning £116 million deal. The 22-year-old is said to have rejected a move to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, and his transfer to the Premier League champions could be finalized within days.

This aggressive approach in the market comes after Arne Slot led Liverpool to a historic 20th league title in his first season. The club has already secured Jeremie Frimpong as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, while Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez continues to be linked with a move to bolster the left side of defence.

While fans eagerly await the official unveiling of Wirtz, speculation has already begun over the number he might wear. His current number 10 shirt at Leverkusen is not an option, as it’s already worn by Alexis Mac Allister, who remains a key figure in the Liverpool midfield.

As a result, Wirtz may revert to his original squad number from his early Leverkusen days — the number 27, which is currently available at Liverpool. It’s the same number last worn by Darwin Nunez, whose debut season fell short of expectations. Supporters will be hoping Wirtz can bring new prestige to the shirt.

Only seven players have ever worn the number 27 in Liverpool history, according to Transfermarkt. The early wearers — goalkeepers Mark Gayle and Stephen Pears, and Icelandic forward Haukur Ingi Gudnason — never featured in a competitive match for the club. Gregory Vignal was the first to actually wear the number on the pitch, followed by Philipp Degen.

The most memorable number 27 was Divock Origi, whose clutch performances — including a goal in the 2019 Champions League final — etched his name into club folklore. If Wirtz does take over the number, Liverpool fans will hope he can create a legacy just as impactful.