Theo Walcott Everton shirt number revealed

Everton have confirmed the signing of England forward Theo Walcott from Arsenal, and the forward will be wearing the #11 shirt for the rest of this season. Walcott has worn #14 with the Gunners since 2008-09, but that number is currently held by the Blues’ first January 2018 signing Cenk Tosun.

The number has been previously worn by short-lived forwards Denis Stracqualursi and Jo, with James McFadden and Francis Jeffers among other forwards. The most recent owner of the number has been Kevin Mirallas before him.

The move of handing Walcott the number is unprecedented considering the Belgian is still on the club’s books as he’s only out on loan at Olympiakos until the end of the season, but this could also mean there is no way to Everton for Mirallas now.

Everton FC

Everton kit #11 history - The first recorded player to wear the number for Everton was John Connolly in 1973, and the first in the Premier League era was Peter Beagrie in 1992.

Kevin Mirallas (12/13 - 17/18, Denis Stracqualursi (11/12), Jô (08/09 - 09/10), James McFadden (04/05 - 07/08), Francis Jeffers (03/04), Mark Pembridge (00/01 - 03/04), Scot Gemmill (98/99 - 99/00), John Spencer (97/98 - 98/99), Anders Limpar (95/96 - 96/97), Daniel Amokachi (94/95), Peter Beagrie (90/91 - 93/94), Pat Nevin (88/89 - 91/92), Kevin Sheedy(82/83 - 90/91), John Ebbrell (90/91), Trevor Steven (88/89)

Speaking at his signing, Walcott spoke about his desire to win trophies.

"“I’m very ambitious and I’ve come here because I want the Club to push to the next level. And with the players that have come in, I feel like the next level can be reached.

“I’m very excited to be starting a new chapter and I felt this was the right place for me to be. The manager is very ambitious and I feel like the Club is going in the right direction.

“Everton is a club with a great history. The fans are always passionate, they’re great and I always used to find it very tough playing here.

“The Club has won trophies but I want them to win trophies now. The manager is very hungry and it’s just what I need. I’ve had a couple of chats with him and straightaway I felt that hunger and that desire that he wanted from me. I need that and I wanted that.

“I want to be part of something which he’s building and, like I said before, it’s a very ambitious club. The fact there’s a new stadium going to be developing in the next few years, it’s exciting times for Everton Football Club.

“I’m dead excited and I just want to do what I do best which is playing football and expressing myself because I’m excited again, I really am. I do really believe that I’m going to give it my all, which is what I always have done, and this place is going to get even more out of me.

“There’s something about this move which I’ve just felt good about.

“It felt like it was time for me to move on [from Arsenal]. It was sad but it’s exciting at the same time and I want to reignite my career and push Everton to win things as they have done before.

“I want to be part of something and I feel like this place will offer me that.”