Bradley Barcola keeps symbolic number 29 at Liverpool

Bradley Barcola has officially joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth 140 million euros, committing his long-term future to the Premier League giants.

The 24-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Olympique Lyonnais, confirmed his squad number alongside the announcement, revealing he will retain the symbolic number 29 he wore at PSG.

Barcola’s attachment to the number stretches back several years. He first adopted it upon arriving in Paris from Lyon in summer 2023, and three years later has chosen to keep it at Anfield. The number had been vacant at Liverpool since Arthur Melo’s departure at the end of the 2022-2023 season.

The story behind Barcola’s loyalty to 29 traces back to his childhood. In an interview with Club Legacyz, he explained: “It’s a pretty funny story. When I was younger, I used to play FIFA. In story mode with Alex Hunter, that number became symbolic for me. I thought to myself, ‘The day I turn pro, it’ll be number 29.’ I adopted it and I’ll never let it go,”

Although he began his professional career at Lyon wearing number 26, Barcola finally secured his favoured 29 upon moving to PSG. Now in the Premier League, the French forward continues his journey with the same number that has accompanied him since fulfilling his childhood dream.