Sunderland announced the signing of Enzo Le Fee on loan from Roma on Friday night. Here we look at which squad number he has chosen and the players who have previously worn it.
Le Fee did not take part in the Black Cats’ FA Cup tie with Stoke City on Saturday afternoon. He is likely to make his debut against Burnley next week.
The Frenchman only joined Roma for a transfer fee of £19.3 million last summer so his decision to play for the Wearside club has surprised many.
He is now expected to lead Sunderland to a top-two finish in the Championship and ensure they play Premier League football next season.
If that were to happen, the Black Cats would be obliged to buy Le Fee for £19.23m.
Sunderland squad numbers, including new signing Enzo Le Fee
Le Fee wore the iconic number 10 shirt in his time at Ligue 1 club Lorient. This is where he played under Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris.
That number was not available to him at the Stadium of Light as it already belongs to winger Patrick Roberts.
Le Fee did not take the 10 shirt at either of his last two clubs, however. He wore the number 28 on his back for both Rennes and Roma.
This was also available to the midfielder upon signing for Sunderland so that’s what he has decided for now. Whether he would keep the same number if he signs permanently in the summer remains to be seen.
Sunderland squad numbers 2024/25
- 1. Anthony Patterson
- 2. Niall Huggins
- 3. Dennis Cirkin
- 4. Dan Neil
- 5. Dan Ballard
- 7. Jobe Bellingham
- 8. Alan Browne
- 10. Patrick Roberts
- 11. Chris Rigg
- 12. Eliezer Mayenda
- 13. Luke O’Nien
- 14. Romaine Mundle
- 15. Nazariy Rusyn
- 16. Blondy Nna Noukeu
- 17. Abdoullah Ba
- 18. Wilson Isidor
- 19. Jewison Bennette
- 20. Salis Abdul Samed
- 21. Simon Moore
- 22. Adil Aouchiche
- 23. Jenson Seelt
- 24. Aaron Connolly
- 26. Chris Mepham
- 28. Enzo Le Fee
- 29. Ahmed Abdullahi
- 30. Milan Aleksic
- 32. Trai Hume
- 33. Leo Hjelde
- 36. Ian Poveda
- 40. Tommy Watson
- 41. Zak Johnson
- 42. Aji Alese
- 45. Joe Anderson
- 47. Trey Ogunsuyi
- 50. Harrison Jones
Which former Sunderland players have worn Enzo Le Fee’s number 28?
There have been several owners of the number 28 shirt in Sunderland’s recent history, including a list of top players that Le Fee hopes to join.
Attacking midfielder Stephane Sessegnon was an integral part of the Black Cats’ Premier League side between 2010 and 2013.
Former Sunderland favourite Aiden McGeady also wore the 28 for two of his five seasons at the Stadium of Light (2020/21 and 2021/22).
But very few are more popular on Wearside than Jermain Defoe, who joined from MLS club Toronto FC in January 2015 and scored 37 goals in all competitions.