Tottenham confirm double squad number change in reward for top signing

Tottenham confirm Guglielmo Vicario as new No1 after impressive first season
Italian takes the shirt previously worn for a decade by Hugo Lloris as Destiny Udogie also makes a change

The Italian goalkeeper takes the squad number that had been vacant since January, when long-serving former captain Hugo Lloris departed Spurs after 11 years in order to join American side Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Lloris had previously had the No1 shirt at Tottenham since the summer of 2014, when he moved from No25 to claim the jersey previously worn by Brazilian predecessor Heurelho Gomes.

Paul Robinson, Neil Sullivan and Ian Walker are the only other players to wear No1 for Spurs in the Premier League this century so far.

Now Vicario has switched from No13 in recognition for an impressive first season in north London that followed his £17.2million switch from Serie A side Empoli in June 2023.

The 27-year-old quickly established himself as the successor to the wantaway Lloris, making 40 appearances across all competitions during Ange Postecoglou’s debut campaign in charge.

Vicario’s old No13 has now been handed to compatriot Destiny Udogie, with the left-back switching from the No38 given to him upon arrival from Udinese last summer.

Tottenham’s No5 shirt will also soon be up for grabs as Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg prepares to complete his season-long loan move to French club Marseille that includes a £17m obligation to buy next summer.

Spurs’ No3 and No11 shirts may also become vacant this summer, with current incumbents Sergio Reguilon and Bryan Gil both given permission to miss the pre-season trip to Japan and South Korea in order to “explore prospective transfer opportunities”.