The newest addition of Manchester United Only 12 players in history have ever worn the shirt number that Benjamin Sesko has been given at his new team. A few hours after joining from RB Leipzig on Saturday, the Slovenian striker was introduced at Old Trafford before the team’s 1-1 draw with Fiorentina.
After Bryan Mbeumo, Diego Leon, and Matheus Cunha, the 22-year-old is the fourth senior to sign this summer. Additionally, Sesko will continue to wear the number that earned him a lot of success in Germany, whereas the other two were given numbers they were previously familiar with.
The New Shirt Number of Sesko Is Out
Sesko will receive the number 30 shirt, which he wore while at RB Leipzig, in the Theatre of Dreams, according to Fabrizio Romano, Senior Reporter for GIVEMESPORT. When video surfaced showing Diego Leon, who had been wearing 30 during preseason, wearing the number 35 prior to United’s match against Fiorentina, there were rumours that this would be the case. When the child was introduced to the Old Trafford supporters, this was later verified.
Sesko’s career has been significantly impacted by the number 30, which he originally wore at RB Salzburg in 2020. When he moved to Germany in 2023, he took it with him, and he will now carry on his legacy in England with the number.
Given the long list of celebrities who have worn the same number at Manchester United, Sesko doesn’t have to worry about the reputation of previous number 30s, even though some shirts, like the number seven, place pressure on those who wear them.
The two most noteworthy of the 12 players who have worn it are John O’Shea and Wes Brown, who were given the number after making their first team debuts before transferring to their more well-known numbers of 22 and 6, respectively. Despite just playing seven games for the team, John O’Kane was the first player to receive it back in the 1993–94 season.
Guillermo Varela also wore it, most notably during the 2015–16 season when Louis van Gaal was dealing with an injury problem. Other young graduates Michael Twiss, Ronnie Wallwork, Ben Williams, Luke Steele, Lee Martin, and Ritchie De Laet also wore it without much distinction.
Additionally, according to Transfermarkt, Matteo Darmian was assigned the number after Varela, albeit the Italian full-back is better known for donning 36. The last player to wear the number was keeper Nathan Bishop, who left the team in 2023 to join Sunderland after making no appearances, with the exception of Leon’s brief stint during this previous preseason.
Former Manchester United No. 30s
Nathan Bishop
(2020–21, 2022–23)
Darmian Matteo
(2016–17)
Varela Guillermo
(2015–16)
De Laet, Ritchie
(October 2009–December 2011)
Martin Lee
(2006-07–2008-09)
Steele, Luke
(2003-04–2005-06)
Ben Williams
(2022–203)
O’Shea, John
(January 2000–February 2001)
Wallwork, Ronnie
1998–1999–1999–00
Brown, Wes
1998–1999
Twiss, Michael
1997–1998
John O’Kane
(1993–1994, 1995–1996)
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