ALEJANDRO Garnacho will be hoping to get back to playing regular football following his recent move to Chelsea.
The Blues signed the Argentinian winger from Manchester United in August 2025 for a fee of £40million.
2
Garnacho played 58 times in all competitions for the Red Devils last season, scoring 11 goals and assisting a further 10.
The 21-year-old forward faces fierce competition on the flanks at Stamford Bridge with the likes of Jamie Gittens, Estevao and Pedro Neto already in the building.
Garnacho will raise a few eyebrows when he steps onto the pitch wearing Chelsea blue – and not just for his trickery.
The wideman has opted for an unconventional shirt number for his first season in west London.
Why is Alejandro Garnacho number 49 for Chelsea?
Garnacho was unable to take the No17 shirt that he has worn in recent seasons at Man Utd, as midfielder Andrey Santos was already the proud owner.
Instead, the Argentinian selected the rather uncommon No49.
2
It’s the same number that the winger wore during his first two seasons in Man Utd’s first team – so it comes as no surprise due to his existing affinity with the number.
Who else has worn the number 49 shirt for Chelsea?
Just four players have donned the No49 in Chelsea colours.
Last season, Richard Olise, brother of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, took the shirt, but he failed to make an appearance for the first team.
Before then, Jimi Tauriainen wore the No49 in 2023/24, John Swift did in 2013/14 and the most famous of the lot, Scott Sinclair in 2006/07.
