Frenkie de Jong's Barcelona Shirt Number Is Revealed as Midfielder Settles into Life at Camp Nou

Frenkie de Jong will wear the number 21 shirt at Barcelona this season, as La Masia graduate Carles Alena switches to number 19. The Dutchman occupied the squad

Frenkie de Jong will wear the number 21 shirt at Barcelona this season, as La Masia graduate Carles Alena switches to number 19.

The Dutchman occupied the squad number throughout his four-year association with the Amsterdam side, and wearing it, he earned himself iconic status, helping his side to an Eredivisie title and a Champions League semi-final before leaving for a club-record fee. 

Keen to carry it with him as an homage to his days in the Dutch capital, the number was already occupied by Alena upon his arrival at Camp Nou, but it seems as if the 21-year-old was happy  to adjust to accommodate. 

2⃣1⃣ @DeJongFrenkie21
1⃣9⃣ @Carlesale10

👉 https://t.co/NTDmBc4zUI pic.twitter.com/E4gRWUYVws

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 15, 2019

As per a club announcement, Alena has taken the number 19, which was held by Kevin-Prince Boateng last season, in order to free up 21 for De Jong, 

The midfielder becomes the ninth player to don the number 21 since permanent squad numbers came into effect in 1995, with esteemed names such as Luis Enrique and Lilian Thuram having made it famous during their playing careers.

Alena, meanwhile, takes the number that one Lionel Messi wore prior to inheriting the number ten from Ronaldinho, while it was also famously worn by Patrick Kluivert, another Ajax alumnus. 

Denis Doyle/GettyImages

In other Barcelona squad numbering news, Antoine Griezmann will wear the number 17, while incoming goalkeeper Neto takes 13.