Manchester United have officially announced that their new signing, Patrick Dorgu, will be donning the number 13 jersey for the team.
Dorgu’s transfer was confirmed on Sunday morning after weeks of speculation surrounding the 20-year-old defender. Manchester United successfully negotiated with Serie A strugglers Lecce to secure the player for a fee just under £30m.
Although Dorgu was unable to make his debut in the Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Sunday, he did make an appearance at Old Trafford before the game alongside fellow new signing Ayden Heaven, showcasing his new number 13 shirt.
The number 13 jersey has been associated with bad luck for several Manchester United players throughout the years. Most recently, it was worn by third-choice goalkeeper Lee Grant from 2018 to 2022, who only made two senior appearances during his time at the club. Historically, this number has been reserved for goalkeepers at United.
Players like Anders Lindegaard, Mark Bosnich, and Roy Carroll have all briefly worn the number 13 shirt, adding to its reputation as an unlucky number at the club.
However, South Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung is perhaps the player most closely associated with the number 13 at Manchester United. The fan favorite made over 200 appearances for the club over seven seasons, always sporting the number 13 jersey. Ji-sung’s high energy and work rate on the field earned him the nickname ‘Third Lung’ from the legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
|
Player |
Years in No13 |
|---|---|
|
Patrick Dorgu |
2025- |
|
Lee Grant |
2018-22 |
|
Anders Lindegaard |
2012-15 |
|
Park Ji-sung |
2005-12 |
|
Roy Carroll |
2001-05 |
|
Mark Bosnich |
2000-01 |
|
John Curtis |
1998-2000 |
|
Brian McClair |
1996-98 |
|
Tony Coton |
1995-96 |