Arsenal Women Announce Squad Number Changes for 2026/27 Season

Arsenal Women have shuffled the numbers on their backs – and sent a clear signal about status and responsibility heading into the 2026/27 season.

The club has confirmed that four first-team players will wear new shirts next term: goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, forwards Caitlin Foord and Michelle Agyemang, and attacking talent Olivia Smith.

Squad Number Changes

Van Domselaar takes the most symbolic change of all, moving into the No 1 jersey. It’s the traditional mark of the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, a number that carries weight in any dressing room, let alone one with Arsenal’s ambitions.

Up front, Caitlin Foord steps into the No 9 shirt – the classic centre-forward number, worn by the player expected to carry a heavy share of the goals. For a forward of her pedigree, it feels like a natural elevation.

On the flanks and between the lines, Olivia Smith will now wear 11, another historic attacking number often reserved for a wide threat or a creative outlet. Michelle Agyemang, one of the brightest young prospects in the squad, moves to 17, a number that has often belonged to rising stars ready to push for a bigger role.

The changes are simple on paper, but squad numbers matter. They say something about hierarchy, about trust, about how a coaching staff sees the spine of its team as a new campaign looms.

Supporter Information

For supporters, there is a practical side to the reshuffle. Fans who have already bought 2026/27 jerseys with the old numbers through Arsenal Direct can request a free refund. Those who picked up their shirts at the Armoury or Highbury stores aren’t left behind either: they can bring their jersey back in for a free exchange to the updated number, provided they show proof of purchase.

New season, new numbers, new statements of intent. The names stay the same – but the message on the back of the shirt just got louder.