The new Premier League season is just around the corner, with more local friendlies gearing up to begin, so squad numbers are going through some changes across the board. Liverpool announced the new additions to their log books earlier with the adidas announcements, and they’re not the only club to do so.
Of note, Brighton and Hove Albion posted their shifting squad numbers on Friday, including former Liverpool vice-captain James Milner. Milner wore the esteemed number 7 (now taken by Florian Wirtz)
during his time with the Reds, and moved to the number 6 when he joined Brighton in 2023. The Seagulls announced that he would be shifting numbers for this upcoming season after signing a year long extension earlier in the summer, taking the number 20 previously worn by Carlos Baleba.
In an Instagram video posted by the club, Milner explains that when he heard Carlos [Baleba] was looking to move, he decided it would be a good way to honor his former teammate Diogo Jota in the Premier League.
View this post on Instagram
“I wanted to do it as a mark of respect and obviously pay tribute to Diogo Jota,” Milner says in the video.
“Who was an amazing player and I was fortunate play with, and a great friend as well. Be a great honor to wear his number in the Premier League this year.”
Milner played with Jota for Liverpool for three years after the striker joined in 2020 from Wolves, until Milner himself left at the end of his contract in 2023. Milner also attended the wake and funeral of Jota and his brother Andre Silva alongside his former teammates earlier this month.
Liverpool themselves have retired the number 20, so we’ll never see another in Red again, but there is still the opening for other players to wear the number in respect and honor of our Portuguese striker, as Milner has done. Another gentle reminder that Diogo touched many, many lives and his legacy will be carried by more than just the club and us as supporters.
More from liverpooloffside.sbnation.com:
- Newcastle United Reportedly Bid for Liverpool Striker
- Barcelona Reportedly Preparing £132M Coutinho Bid
- Catalan Press Claim Philippe Coutinho has Chosen Barcelona Shirt Number
- Rumour Mongering: Reds In For Roma Keeper Alisson
- Barcelona Claim They’ve Shown Liverpool “Respect” in Coutinho Chase
- Adam Lallana Is Ready To Compete
- Emre Can Expected to Remain at Liverpool Until Summer
