Why does Phil Foden wear the number 47? Manchester City star turned down Sergio Aguero’s shirt to stick with unusual digits

Phil Foden has made over 200 appearances for Manchester City, but he still wears an unconventional number.

The City midfielder has dominated defences around Europe in his now iconic number 47.

Attacking midfielders such as Foden traditionally wear the ten shirt.

However, Jack Grealish claimed those digits when he swapped Aston Villa for Man City in the summer of 2021.

Why does Phil Foden wear number 47?

47 was Foden’s first shirt number at City and has worn it since his debut for the Citizens in 2017.

And the reason he has held onto the shirt is incredibly heartwarming and poignant.

Foden’s late grandfather Ronnie, passed away when he was just 47, and the England international uses his shirt as a constant tribute to his grandad.

Ronnie was a huge City fan his whole life and would undoubtedly be extremely proud of his grandson’s achievements, considering he is just 22.

However, Foden has had the opportunity to change shirts but decided against it.

Once it was announced that Sergio Aguero would depart the Etihad in 2021, the Argentine offered his number ten shirt to the Manchurian.

But Foden turned it down because he wanted people to remember the number 47.

Speaking about Aguero’s offer last year, he said: “I did think about it.

“The ten shirt is such a big number in the club, but I just have a thing with 47.

“I’d like to create my own legacy and keep that number.” 

And with Grealish looking at home in the ten shirt, Foden will wear the 47 for the foreseeable.

And as he said, he wants to create a legacy, which he is already on the way to doing.

This hasn’t been his best season, but Foden still has so many years at the top to come, and we will be seeing his 47 for quite some time.