Al-Ittihad hand Richard Rios No 5 shirt before Al-Nassr clash

Al-Ittihad have confirmed that new Colombian midfielder Richard Rios will wear the number five shirt during the upcoming season, despite the number being traditionally associated with defenders at the Saudi club.

The announcement came on Friday, a day after Al-Ittihad confirmed the signing of Rios from Benfica. The midfielder has joined on loan until the end of the current season, with reports indicating that the agreement does not contain an option to buy.

In a post on the club’s official account on X, Al-Ittihad revealed the details of the deal and confirmed that Rios would take the number five shirt. The club also published images from the signing ceremony, with the accompanying message: “The ceremony for signing Richard Rios’ contract until 2027.”

The choice of number is notable because it has generally been worn by defenders at Al-Ittihad. Five of the six most recent players to wear the shirt played in defence. The latest was Italian defender Luiz Felipe, who wore it between 2023 and 2025.

Rios has never previously used the number five during his professional career. His most recent shirt at Benfica was number 20, which is currently worn by Al-Ittihad defender and captain Ahmed Sharahili.

The Colombian also wore number eight during his time with Palmeiras. That shirt is now assigned to Al-Ittihad’s new arrival from Al-Ettifaq, Mukhtar Ali. Rios has also worn the number 27, currently held by Ahmed Al-Ghamdi.

That leaves the number 18 as the vacant shirt with the strongest connection to Rios’ previous career. He wore it while playing for Guarani and Mazatlan, but it has been unavailable at Al-Ittihad for about 13 years.

The club has kept number 18 out of circulation in recognition of Mohammed Noor, one of the most important players in Al-Ittihad’s history. Noor left the club in 2013, but the shirt has remained withheld since then as a tribute to the former captain and club legend.

Rios could make his first appearance for Al-Ittihad in Saturday’s Saudi Pro League fixture against traditional rivals Al-Nassr. Reports have suggested that the midfielder will be included in the squad for the match, which will be played in the fifth round of the Saudi Pro League.

His arrival gives Al-Ittihad another midfield option, while the decision to hand him number five adds an unusual detail to a signing that has already attracted attention. Rather than taking a number more commonly associated with midfielders, Rios will wear a shirt that, at Al-Ittihad, has most recently been linked to the club’s defensive players.