Who Will Claim Liverpool's Coveted No. 9 Jersey After Darwin Nunez's Departure?
Liverpool's No. 9 jersey might not carry the same prestige as Manchester United's No. 7 or Barcelona's No. 10, but it has been worn by numerous legends.
Ian Rush, Fernando Torres, Robbie Fowler and Roberto Firmino all became Anfield legends while sporting that number, and everyone connected to the club hoped the charismatic Darwin Nuñéz would follow a similar path.
The unpredictable striker leaves Merseyside this summer, having fallen short of justifying his then record transfer fee, but states that his three seasons with the club "will always be part" of his identity. Nuñéz's departure leaves Liverpool with a notable gap in squad numbers, as the coveted No. 9 is now available.
The most likely successor to Nuñéz isn't currently part of the squad, and Liverpool will undoubtedly wait to see how that situation unfolds before assigning the No. 9 to another player.
Here are the top contenders to don the Reds' No. 9 jersey for 2025–26.
Alexander Isak
Liverpool have become Europe's most active spenders following several transfer windows of restraint, and the Premier League title holders might be reserving their largest investment for the finale.
They've already broken their transfer record by securing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, and they appear ready to surpass that achievement by acquiring Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak.
The Swedish striker, who netted 23 league goals last season, interestingly waited until Arsenal and Liverpool had completed striker signings to announce his intention to leave Newcastle this summer, but the latter remain optimistic about reaching an agreement with the Magpies after their initial offer was rejected. Isak has previously been priced at £150 million.
Should Liverpool complete the summer's most significant transfer, Isak would certainly inherit Nuñéz's No. 9 jersey, even though he might favor Federico Chiesa's No. 14. At club level, the Swedish international has only worn No. 9 during his time with Willem II in the Eredivisie.
Hugo Ekitiké
Although Liverpool were eager to move Nuñéz on throughout the summer, he remained at the club when Ekitiké's transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt was finalized.
The French striker received a provisional number during the Reds' preseason tour of Asia, but has since been officially assigned the No. 22 jersey. Despite the forward's historical preference for the No. 9 shirt, a switch now appears improbable—though it remains possible.
Ekitiké showcased his exceptional ability in Liverpool's preseason win against Athletic Club, then found the net for his debut goal less than five minutes into their Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace. He possesses genuine quality, yet the Reds desire additional firepower in attack.
Rio Ngumoha
There's currently a shortage of traditional strikers at Liverpool, and if Isak remains at Newcastle this summer, it appears probable that the Reds will keep their No. 9 shirt unassigned for the 2025–26 campaign.
We've mentioned Rio Ngumoha as a possible candidate, but only because he hasn't yet received a confirmed squad number following his impressive preseason performances.
The 16-year-old appears prepared to make an impact for the Premier League champions, and he was included on the substitutes' bench for the Reds' penalty shootout loss to Palace at Wembley. Primarily operating as a winger or attacking midfielder, Rio seems an unlikely contender to ever wear the No. 9 shirt at Anfield.