Gabriel Jesus is now set to wear his confirmed Barcelona shirt number, with the Brazilian ready to begin his journey at Camp Nou.
The deadline-day transfer activities reached their official climax as the sporting management team confirmed squad number allocations for incoming additions.
Following the completion of high-level negotiations to bolster Hansi Flick’s forward line, the board awarded the squad’s premier attacking shirt to their newest international signing.
The marquee 29-year-old Brazilian international completed a permanent €10 million transfer from Arsenal, plus €4 million in add-ons, signing a three-year contract through 2029.
The legendary No. 9 jersey had remained unassigned over the summer window following the departure of Robert Lewandowski, who departed upon the expiration of his contract, as reported by Jijantes.
Although Barcelona had initially held the number for alternative target Julián Álvarez, the club’s sporting committee formally handed the mantle to Jesus after his deadline-day signing materialized.
The decision allows the Brazilian attacker to maintain a deep personal tradition, having worn the No. 9 shirt for eight consecutive seasons across his stints at Manchester City and Arsenal.
By donning the number for Barcelona, he joins a rich lineage of footballing royalty who have worn the Blaugrana #9—including legends Johan Cruyff, Romário, Ronaldo Nazário, Samuel Eto’o, Luis Suárez, and Lewandowski.
Having completed his medical evaluations and observed Barcelona’s recent victory from the directors’ box, Jesus expressed immense enthusiasm about taking on the core responsibility in Flick’s setup.
The striker accepted a notable salary reduction to facilitate the transfer on deadline day.
Now fully registered with La Liga, Barcelona’s new No. 9 joins full first-team training sessions immediately as the club prepares for upcoming domestic and Champions League fixtures.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
