Marcus Rashford's New Tattoos: The Story Behind the Numbers

Marcus Rashford has added two more numbers to the story he carries on his skin.

The Manchester United forward has had 14 and 9 tattooed, according to Manchester-based artist Dale McGovern, joining the already familiar 39, 19 and 10 that chart his rise from academy hopeful to global star. Each number is a breadcrumb on his career path. These two are no different.

No. 14 takes him back to Barcelona. It was the shirt he wore during his first move abroad, a stint that brought a La Liga title and a Spanish Super Cup and underlined his ability to adapt away from Old Trafford. No. 9 recalls another stop: Aston Villa, where he led the line before returning to United with the same centre-forward’s number on his back. It is now the fourth shirt number he has worn for the club.

The visuals that map out those stages, produced by Jersey Story, only underline how much of Rashford’s journey can be told in digits alone.

Persik Kediri step into Adidas era with bold purple home

In Indonesia, Persik Kediri have opened a new chapter of their own.

The East Java club have unveiled their 26-27 home kit, the first produced under a fresh deal with Adidas after parting ways with DRX Wear. The German giant has wasted no time stamping its identity on the side.

The new shirt leans fully into Persik’s deep purple, using it as a rich base from collar to hem. Adidas has shifted its trademark Three Stripes off the shoulders and dropped them vertically down the sides of the torso in crisp white, a tweak that sharpens the silhouette and keeps the front clean.

A round crew collar, perforated sleeves and a white Adidas logo keep things classic. The club crest, topped by two golden stars for past titles, sits above the AFG (#AthletesForGood) sponsor mark, which runs across the chest. Matching purple shorts and socks complete a home kit that feels streamlined and unapologetically bold.

V.League 2 rebrands its sleeves as title sponsor departs

Vietnam’s second tier is changing too, though not on the pitch.

V.League 2 has revealed a new rhombus-shaped sleeve badge, a small detail that carries big symbolic weight. The design draws from traditional festival flags, a visual cue at the heart of the VPF’s refreshed identity for Vietnam’s professional leagues.

There is a twist. For the first time in 24 years, the competition will run without a title sponsor after the Gold Star Beer deal expired. VPF has yet to secure a replacement, leaving the league to lean on its new look as it navigates an uncertain commercial landscape.

For now, the badge is doing its job. Vietnamese fans have welcomed the modern, festival-inspired design, a rare off-field change that has landed almost unanimously well.

Arsenal lock in numbers for title defence

In North London, the arithmetic for the champions is set.

With the summer window shut, Arsenal’s men’s squad numbers for 26-27 are confirmed, and kit specialist @ArsenalShirt has laid them out in full on the club’s home and goalkeeper jerseys as the Gunners prepare to defend their Premier League crown.

The headline moves are clear. Viktor Gyökeres inherits the iconic 14, a shirt loaded with history. Eberechi Eze steps into the creative spotlight with the coveted 10. Bruno Guimarães keeps his familiar 39, bringing continuity to the heart of midfield.

At the back, Cristhian Mosquera takes 3, Piero Hincapié 5 and Ezri Konsa 15, underlining the scale of Arsenal’s defensive rebuild. Christos Tzolis wears 17, Noni Madueke 20 and Martin Zubimendi 36, adding depth and variety across the pitch.

In goal, David Raya stays with 1, while Kepa Arrizabalaga comes in at 13 and Illan Meslier at 30, forming a stacked goalkeeping group.

The core remains untouched. Bukayo Saka is still 7, captain Martin Ødegaard 8, Declan Rice 41. One number stands out by its absence: 9 remains vacant after summer departures, a gap that will fuel speculation until someone claims it.

Two academy products, Myles Lewis-Skelly (49) and Max Dowman (56), are now officially listed with the senior squad. Their numbers sit high, but their ambitions clearly do not.

Galatasaray extend Alfemo shirt deal

In Turkey, Galatasaray have opted for continuity.

The club has reached an agreement to extend its shirt sponsorship with furniture brand Alfemo for the 26-27 season. Operating under the Zeren Group, Alfemo will again occupy the side panel and underarm slots on the Süper Lig giants’ domestic match shirts.

The relationship began midway through the 25-26 campaign after a February 2026 agreement. After testing the market over the summer, both sides have chosen to stay together. An official announcement from the club is expected shortly, but the message is already clear: in a volatile sponsorship world, this is one partnership that holds.

Auckland FC carry the Waitākere mist on the road

Across the world in New Zealand, champions Auckland FC will travel with a piece of home on their backs.

The club and New Balance have launched a new away kit for the 26-27 A-League season, drawing its soul from the misty Waitākere Ranges Regional Park that looms over the city.

The away shirt starts with a clean white base, cut through by blue piping along the seams. The real drama comes on the front: vertical lines of tiny blue raindrops trickle down the torso, gradually merging towards the hem to reveal a silhouette of hazy mountaintops. It’s subtle from distance, striking up close.

The goalkeeper shirt flips the palette, going navy blue with white graphics, but keeps the same motif. Both versions use a round collar and carry a gold A-League badge on the chest, a nod to Auckland’s status as defending champions. Inside the collar sits the club motto: “Always Advance. Never Retreat” – a message hidden from the stands but impossible for players to ignore.

The launch shoot took place at Muriwai Beach, one of Auckland’s most rugged stretches of coastline, tying the kit back to the city’s landscape. Both the outfield and goalkeeper versions are already on sale through the club’s channels and selected retailers.

USM Alger and Macron reveal sharp home and away set

In Algeria, USM Alger have refreshed their look without losing their identity.

The Ligue 1 side and technical partner Macron have rolled out new home and away kits for 26-27, extending a collaboration that has consistently delivered clean, tailored designs.

The home shirt is drenched in red, lifted by subtle tonal textures woven into the fabric. Black trims the collar and sleeve cuffs, each edged with fine red piping that keeps the detailing tight. The USMA crest, topped by three stars, sits on the chest opposite black Macron Hero logos on the right side and shoulders. Across the middle, Groupe Serport and realme branding completes a busy but balanced front.

The away kit strips things back. A white base is broken by thin red and black pinstripes running vertically down the front. The rounded collar and cuffs echo the home shirt with two-tone black and red finishes, while solid black logos ensure the design stays crisp from every angle.

FC Cartagena finally unveil delayed home stripes

In Spain, FC Cartagena’s wait is over.

After weeks of manufacturing and administrative delays that forced the club to wear a plain grey catalog shirt in pre-season, the Italian brand Macron has finally delivered the official 26-27 home kit.

“La Albinegra” stays true to its name. The shirt features classic black and white vertical stripes, made thinner and more numerous this year to give the design more rhythm. Inside the black bands, a subtle dot pattern adds depth without distracting from the traditional look.

Macron has injected a jolt of colour through magenta-pink accents on the crewneck collar, sleeve cuffs and its Hero logo. Local telecommunications firm Telecartagena debuts as main shirt sponsor on the front, with Inmohogares taking the sleeve slot. Black shorts and socks round off a kit that feels both familiar and freshly sharpened.

Highlanders FC mark 100 years with centenary collection

In Zimbabwe, one of the country’s great clubs is dressing for a milestone.

Highlanders FC and Looks Sportswear have launched a special Bosso @100 centenary collection for the 26-27 season, celebrating a century since the Bulawayo side was founded in 1926. The result is a full trio of shirts that pay homage to history while pushing the design forward.

The home kit keeps the club’s iconic black and white vertical stripes but tears through them with jagged geometric breaks across the upper chest and bottom hem, as if the shirt itself has been ripped open by time and rivalry. A black V-neck collar and black sleeve cuffs frame the chaos.

Alongside it sits an all-black alternate jersey, stripped back and elegant, finished with a white polo collar and matching cuff trim. The third option flips the script again: a clean white base punctuated by bold red side panels and shoulder stripes that fade in a fiery gradient.

All three carry a dedicated centenary crest placed centrally on the chest, sitting between the Looks manufacturer mark and the traditional Highlanders shield. Energy company Sakunda holds the prime sponsor spot across each design.

A hundred years on from their founding, Highlanders are not just marking history. They are wearing it, every time they walk out.