Alexander Isak Confirmed Shirt Number at Liverpool

The transfer saga of the summer reached a merciful conclusion on Deadline Day.

Alexander Isak finally joined Liverpool on Deadline Day. / X/LFC

Liverpool have landed their man. The transfer saga of the summer is reaching a conclusion at the last. Alexander Isak is heading to the champions and will don the No. 9 shirt for his troubles.

Adamant that his time with the Magpies was up, Isak has compromised relationships in the North East in order to sanction the definitive switch of his career. Liverpool, having had a £110 million ($148.8 million) offer rejected earlier in the window, have been successful with their second record-breaking proposal. At £125 million, potentially rising to £130 million, Isak is set to become the third-most expensive footballer ever.

The rich are only getting richer, with the Reds making their move despite the excellent start to life at Anfield for Hugo Ekitiké. A 1–0 win over perennial bridesmaids Arsenal has given them a very early edge in the title race, and the addition of the Premier League’s second leading scorer last season has sparked fears of a potential runaway champion.

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Alexander Isak Shirt Number History

Isak donned No. 14 at Newcastle. / Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Isak has had a penchant for the No. 14 shirt throughout his senior career, wearing the number at AIK, Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United.

The striker started out with the Nos. 30 and 36 with his boyhood club AIK before joining Dortmund in 2017. Ultimately, his career in the Ruhr region didn’t pan out, and after a loan to Willem II in 2018–19, where he wore the No. 9 shirt, Isak joined Real Sociedad.

Isak stuck with No. 19 during his three years in San Sebastián.

For the national team, Liverpool’s newest hitman has primarily worn the much-desired No. 9 shirt, but he’s also had Nos. 8, 10, 11, 14 and 15 on his back while representing his country.

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History of Liverpool’s No. 9 Shirt

Darwin Núñez has vacated the No. 9 shirt. / Joe Prior/Visionhaus/Getty Images

Darwin Núñez vacated Liverpool’s No. 9 shirt earlier this summer. Hugo Ekitiké intriguingly didn’t immediately inherit it, instead taking on No. 22 almost as though it had been saved specifically for Isak.

Roberto Firmino spent seven years with that particular digit curling around his back despite embodying a role which subverted the traditional stereotypes of a 9. As Jürgen Klopp gushed: “For people with football knowledge, I'm pretty sure when he finishes playing people will write books about the way he interpreted the false-nine position.”

Rickie Lambert, Christian Benteke and Andy Carroll were more orthodox—and unsuccessful—No. 9s, emphatically failing to following in the footsteps of Fernando Torres. The Spaniard boasted a prolific peak in-keeping with the legendary history of a shirt previously worn by Robbie Fowler, Ian St. John and the inimitable Ian Rush.

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