Newcastle United have handed Anthony Elanga the No.20 shirt after signing a five-year deal from Nottingham Forest.
Fans have been speculating which number the 23-year-old was going to take after agreeing a move to the Magpies this summer, and some may have been left surprised by what he chose.
Anthony Elanga will wear the No.20 at Newcastle United. The decision comes despite the fact that the No.9 was available following Callum Wilson’s exit.
Newcastle are about to sell Sean Longstaff. So the No.36, which Elanga wore at Manchester United, is soon to be available. Despite that, he chose the No.20 and intends to make history with it.
Elsewhere, Newcastle have given Lewis Hall the No.3, succeeding former Toon star Paul Dummett, who left on a free in 2024. The 21-year-old has cemented his place in Eddie Howe’s starting XI after joining on loan in 2023.
With Elanga’s squad number now confirmed, Geordie Boot Boys looks back at the other notable Newcastle players to use the number.
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Chris Wood wore No.20 at Newcastle United after Anthony Elanga call
Elanga has some good company with his new shirt number, including one of his former teammates at Nottingham Forest.
Chris Wood joined Newcastle in January 2022, and was a key player in helping the Magpies get out of the relegation zone that season. His time on Tyneside was cut short when he made a loan move to Nottingham Forest which was subsequently made permanent shortly after.
Wood was a big fan of Elanga at Forest, and will surely be gutted to have seen one of his teammates leave.
The No.20 has also been worn by many other players at Newcastle, some who went on to become fan favourites and others who left soon after joining.
Other notable players to wear No.20 on Tyneside include Florian Lejeune, Yoan Gouffran, Florian Thauvin, Remy Cabella, Leon Best and Albert Luque.
Anthony Elanga has the chance to make the No.20 historic at Newcastle United
Howe was delighted when Newcastle signed Elanga, a player whom he had been chasing for over a year. The winger was subject to a deadline day offer from Newcastle in the 2024 summer transfer window, which included Miguel Almiron, but it was swiftly turned down.
Newcastle had secret talks for Elanga in January, but Howe backed out of the deal when Forest asked for Jacob Murphy in return.
The No.20 was likely not Newcastle fans’ first choice, but Elanga now has the opportunity to become a legend with his new number and make up for the failings of other players who wore it before him.
His decision also leaves the No.9 shirt available for Alexander Isak, who is reportedly set to be offered it this summer.
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