New signing Iheanacho inherits Celtic squad number worn by ex-England striker Ian Wright

Kelechi Iheanacho has been assigned a squad number at Celtic following his move to the Scottish Premiership champions, just a day after the close of the summer transfer window, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The Nigeria international joined the Hoops on a one-year contract after mutually parting ways with La Liga side Sevilla, with the deal including a club option to extend through the 2026–2027 season.

Iheanacho will wear the number 17 jersey for the 2025–2026 campaign, a shirt once famously donned by former England striker Ian Wright during his spell at Celtic in the 1999–2000 season. 

The number became available following Maik Nawrocki's loan move to German club Hannover 96 earlier this summer.

Several notable names have worn the number 17 for Celtic in years past, including Jota, Ryan Christie, Amido Baldé, Pawel Brozek, Marc Crosas, Steven Pressley, Didier Agathé, Enrico Annoni, David Hannah and Morten Wieghorst.

Iheanacho made his Premier League debut with Manchester City in the number 72, before switching to number 8 at Leicester City, where he later wore number 14 across five straight seasons. 

At Sevilla, where first-team opportunities proved limited, the 2013 Fifa U17 World Cup Golden Ball winner was allocated the number 9, a shirt he retained during his loan spell at Middlesbrough in the second half of last season.

Celtic completed the transfer in time to register Iheanacho for the league phase of the Uefa Europa League.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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