No, it’ll not be Wayne Rooney as the returning Everton icon has been given the no.10 for the Blues with that iconic no.9, a clear sign of the fact he’s viewed as a goalscorer, handed to Sandro Ramirez.
All of the Toffees squad have now been issued squad numbers.
The other Everton arrivals this summer, those who form the first team this season that is, Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane and Davy Klaassen will wear 1, 4 and 20.
Having arrived last season, Yannick Bolasie has traded his no.14 for the no.7.
The squad list:
1 – Jordan Pickford
2 – Morgan Schneiderlin
3 – Leighton Baines
4 – Michael Keane
5 – Ashley Williams
6 – Phil Jagielka
7 – Yannick Bolasie
8 – Ross Barkley
9 – Sandro Ramirez
10 – Wayne Rooney
11 – Kevin Mirallas
12- Aaron Lennon
16 – James McCarthy
17 – Idrissa Gana Gueye
18 – Gareth Barry
20 – Davy Klaassen
21 – Muhamed Besic
22 – Maarten Stekelenburg
23 – Seamus Coleman
25 – Ramiro Funes Mori
26 – Tom Davies
29 – Dominic Calvert-Lewin
30 – Mason Holgate
31 – Ademola Lookman
33 – Joel Robles
34 – Oumar Niasse
Interestingly, which wasn’t the case last season when he was informed he had no future at Goodison Park, Oumar Niasse HAS been issued a squad number this time round, albeit the bottom of the pile, no.34.
Will Ross Barkley still hold the no.8 come August? If so will it still belong to the England midfielder in September…
Phil Jagielka, the Everton no.6, is one of those some might have expected to move on this summer? But the veteran Blues captain and defender is still at Goodison and he’s commented on the return of Rooney.
He told the Official Website: ‘He was in for the first time on Monday, joining in with the boys, and you could tell he is excited. We are all excited too, as we are about all the new signings. But with Wayne it is that little bit special. Obviously it [the move] had gathered momentum over the last few weeks or so but it was fantastic to get it done.’
Adding: ‘You heard rumours that Manchester United were prepared to let him come this way, then it just came down to the powers that be to decide whether Wayne was going to suit what we have planned for the next few years. Thankfully [they decided] he does. You can tell in the interviews he has done already that he is happy. He has a new challenge now, which I think is perfect for him at this time in his career.’
