Before each season, every Premier League club gives a different shirt number to every member of its first-team squad. That number sits in a protected area on the back of the shirt, and that area must stay clear of any other design, marking or advertising.
How numbers are allocated and used
The allocation happens before the season starts, and each first-team player at a club must have a different number. On matchday, the team sheet submitted before the game sets out the names and shirt numbers of the players and substitutes taking part.
The number zone on the shirt
Here are the requirements for the number zone.
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Basis of the number zone | Built around a two-digit number |
| Space above | 2cm above the highest point of the digits |
| Space below | 3cm below the lowest point |
| Space on each side | 3cm beyond the left and right edges |
| Stripes or other design features allowed inside the zone | No |
| Team, manufacturer or other identification, or advertising, allowed inside the zone | No |
How many strips a club registers
Here are the strips each club registers.
| Strip | How many |
|---|---|
| Home strip, outfield players and goalkeepers | One |
| Alternative strips, outfield players | Up to two |
| Alternative strips, goalkeepers | At least two |
Registration covers outfield players and goalkeepers separately.
Why teams change strip in a match
The two clubs in a match must wear strips that are visibly different from each other and that contrast clearly. The purpose is to help match officials, players, spectators and television viewers tell the teams apart, including viewers with colour vision deficiency.
A club's home shirt and alternative shirts also cannot use a colour or design that is like or similar to what the match officials wear. If that clash exists, a registered alternative strip is the way to solve it.
FAQ
When are Premier League squad numbers decided?
They are allocated before the start of each season. The requirement applies across the first-team squad, with a different number for each player.
Can a Premier League player change his shirt number?
Numbers are allocated before the start of each season, with a different number for each member of the first-team squad. The team sheet submitted before a match lists the shirt numbers and names of the players and substitutes taking part.
Why do Premier League teams wear an away or alternative kit?
They change when the two sides would not be clearly distinguishable, or when a club's shirt is like or similar to the match officials' outfit. The point is clear identification on the pitch and on television.
How many kits does a Premier League club have to register?
The registration set includes one home strip plus alternative options for outfield players and for goalkeepers. The outfield total has an upper limit, while the goalkeeper total has a minimum requirement, so clubs do not all have to register the same overall number.