Crystal Palace have confirmed their squad numbers for the 2022/23 season with Cheikhou Kouyate’s number eight shirt from last season left vacant.
The Senegalese became a free agent when his contract with Palace expired at the end of July. The Eagles had been in talks with Kouyate about extending his stay but there has been no confirmation over an agreement.
Kouyate was also missing from Palace’s squad for pre-season tours in Singapore and Australia and his exclusion from the squad numbers list would suggest the 32-year-old will not play for Palace next season. Kouyate was reportedly in talks with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, according to Football Insider, but there has been very little talk of where the midfielder will ply his trade next term.
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Meanwhile, Palace’s summer signings have been handed their squad numbers. Teenager Malcolm Ebiowei, who the Eagles signed from Derby County in a compensation deal, has been given Conor Gallagher’s old shirt number. Ebiowei will wear the no.23 shirt after fan favourite Gallagher returned to parent club Chelsea.
Cheick Doucoure, who Palace signed for £21million from French side RC Lens, will play in the no.28 shirt next season, whereas Bayern Munich signing Chris Richards will wear no.26. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has been given the no.21 shirt, while Jack Butland and Vicente Guaita retain their no.1 and no.13 shirts respectively.
Will Hughes has a new shirt number after switching from no.12 to no.19. Here are the Crystal Palace squad numbers for the 2022/23 Premier League season:
1. Jack Butland
2. Joel Ward
3. Tyrick Mitchell
4. Luka Milivojevic
5. James Tomkins
6. Marc Guehi
7. Michael Olise
8. Vacant (Previously worn by Cheikhou Kouyate)
9. Jordan Ayew
10. Eberechi Eze
11. Wilfried Zaha
12. Vacant (Previously worn by Will Hughes)
13. Vicente Guaita
14. Jean-Phillipe Mateta
15. Jeffrey Schlupp
16. Joachim Andersen
17. Nathaniel Clyne
18. James McArthur
19. Will Hughes (Previously worn by Remi Matthews)
20. Christian Benteke
21. Sam Johnstone
22. Odsonne Edouard
23. Malcolm Ebiowei (Previously worn by Conor Gallagher)
24 & 25. Vacant
26. Chris Richards
27. Vacant
28. Cheick Doucoure
29 – 35. Vacant
36. Nathan Ferguson
37- 43. Vacant
44. Jairo Riedewald
45-47. Vacant
48. Luke Plange
49. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
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