Marcus Rashford's Manchester United 2nd innings: Forward gets new jersey number

Manchester United have officially registered Marcus Rashford as their new No.9 after his return. The move keeps him in the first-team picture even as his long-term future remains unclear.Marcus Rashford has been given a new jersey number by United. (Image: Reuters)Marcus Rashford has been handed the No.9 shirt by Manchester United following his return to the club, although his long-term future at Old Trafford remains uncertain. The England forward is yet to be guaranteed a place in United's squad beyond the end of the summer transfer window.Rashford wore the No.9 during United's friendly against AC Milan last weekend, marking his first appearance for the club since December 2024. At the time, United described the shirt number as temporary, but it has now been officially registered with the Premier League. Manager Michael Carrick has spoken positively about Rashford's attitude and performances since his comeback, with the 28-year-old currently still part of the first-team setup.PREMIER LEAGUE 2026-27: FULL COVERAGE"He's a very good player, and I think if you're going to have a career over 10 or 15 years, there's going to be times when things go in a direction and maybe a different direction.""I think there are ups and downs, and that doesn't judge you as a one-off kind of judgment. It's what happens over time, and now we're in a positive place as a group, and Marcus can offer us so much. He has done, and he can do again, so in that respect, it's quite exciting. He's our player. He arrived back with Kobbie [Mainoo], and Lisandro [Martinez] came the day after, and he's part of the group like anybody else. He came in, he's trained really well," said Carrick. The No.9 became vacant following Rasmus Hojlund's move to Napoli. Rashford previously wore United's No.10 shirt before spending time on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona. That number has since been taken by summer signing Matheus Cunha. Hojlund inherited the No.9 shirt after Anthony Martial left United in 2024. The Danish striker's association with the famous number lasted only one full season before Ruben Amorim decided to move him out of his plans.Rashford now joins a distinguished group of players to have worn the shirt during the Premier League era, including Andy Cole, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Dimitar Berbatov. Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton is also among the club's former No.9s. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Rashford still has two years left on his United contract, which is reportedly worth £325,000 a week.- EndsPublished On: Aug 22, 2026 16:35 IST