Image source: football.london
Tottenham confirmed Conor Gallagher will wear the number 22 shirt after completing his £34.7million transfer from Atletico Madrid. The England international signed a five-and-a-half year contract as Thomas Frank’s first January signing, with Spurs beating Aston Villa to secure the midfielder’s services on a permanent deal.
Conor Gallagher Inherits Iconic Number 22 Jersey Following Tottenham Transfer
Gallagher takes over the number 22 shirt previously worn by Brennan Johnson, who departed for Crystal Palace earlier this month. The jersey holds significant history at Tottenham, with Johnson scoring the winning goal in last season’s UEFA Europa League final victory over Manchester United while wearing the number. The shirt was also previously donned by club legend Robbie Keane during the 2002/03 season.
Tottenham moved decisively to sign Gallagher after Rodrigo Bentancur was ruled out for the remainder of the season through injury. The Lilywhites fended off strong interest from Aston Villa, who wanted to sign the England international on loan with an option to buy. Spurs’ willingness to pay the full transfer fee upfront proved crucial in securing Gallagher’s signature ahead of their rivals.
The 25-year-old midfielder expressed his excitement about joining Tottenham, stating he wanted to create special moments with the supporters. “I’m so happy and excited to be here, taking the next step in my career at an amazing club,” Gallagher said in his first interview. “I wanted to be a Spurs player and thankfully the Club felt the same. I know how great the fans are, I’m really happy to be a part of it here and want to create special moments and memories together.”
Manager Thomas Frank praised Gallagher’s leadership qualities and experience across multiple competitions. “Conor is a top midfielder, who we have worked tirelessly to add to our squad,” Frank said. “Conor has captained teams so will bring leadership, maturity, character and personality to our dressing room, while his running power, pressing ability and eye for goal will strengthen us in a key area of the pitch.” Gallagher could make his debut when Tottenham face West Ham this weekend.
The number 22 shirt has been worn by several notable players throughout Tottenham’s history, including Nacer Chadli, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Vedran Corluka, and Tom Huddlestone. Gallagher will hope to add his own memorable moments to the jersey’s legacy as he begins his career in north London following his brief spell at Atletico Madrid.
