The significance of the number 12 jersey in football is generally limited. As it is typically assigned to second-choice goalkeepers and squad players who often serve as substitutes. Today the list contains soccer players with number 12.
Previously, notable players such as Thierry Henry played for the French national team. John Mikel Obi for Chelsea, and Marcelo at Real Madrid have donned the number 12 jersey.
Presently, there are a few promising young talents in the world of football who currently wear the number 12 jersey. Let’s take a closer look at these players as we provide their profiles.
Below are some well-known footballers who proudly wear the number 12 jersey.
S No. | Name | Club | Position |
10 | Rafa Mir | Sevilla | Forward |
9 | Enock Mwepu | Brighton Hove Albion | Midfielder |
8 | Jamal Lewis | Newcastle | Defender |
7 | Raoul Bellanova | Inter Milan | Defender |
6 | Alex Sandro | Juventus | Defender |
5 | Simon Mignolet | Belgium | Goalkeeper |
4 | Emerson Royal | Spurs | Defender |
3 | Tyrell Malacia | Manchester United | Defender |
2 | Ruben Loftus-Cheek | Chelsea | Midfielder |
1 | William Saliba | Arsenal | Defender |
10. Rafa Mir (Sevilla)
Despite being a consistent performer for Sevilla, Rafa Mir, aged 25, has yet to earn a call-up to the Spanish national team.
Throughout his career, the striker has been on the move. He started with his transfer from Valencia to the Premier League side Wolves in 2018.
During his time at Wolves, he was loaned out to various clubs including Las Palmas, Nottingham Forest, and Huesca. In 2021, he made the switch to Sevilla, where he has featured in more than forty matches. He found the back of the net on twelve occasions.
Moreover, Mir was a part of the under-20 Zambian national team. It shone at the FIFA under-20 World Cup in South Korea in 2017.
9. Enock Mwepu (Brighton Hove Albion)
Enock Mwepu, a talented Zambian player, unfortunately, had to end his football career on October 10, 2022. Due to a rare hereditary heart condition he was diagnosed with.
At the age of only 24, Mwepu had made a significant impact at Brighton. He became the club’s most expensive signing after his move from Red Bull Salzburg. He had also represented the Zambian national team on 23 occasions.
Furthermore, Mwepu was part of the Zambian under-20 national team that achieved notable success at the FIFA under-20 World Cup. It was held in South Korea in 2017, showcasing his potential and talent on the international stage.
8. Jamal Lewis (Newcastle)
Jamal Lewis, a 24-year-old left-back, currently represents Newcastle United, following his four-year tenure at Norwich City.
Unfortunately, this season has not been particularly favorable for the Northern Irish international. He has struggled to make a significant impact and has found himself on the fringes of the Newcastle United team. Despite the club experiencing a fantastic start to the season.
7. Raoul Bellanova (Inter Milan)
Raoul Bellanova, a 22-year-old Italian right-back, currently plies his trade for Inter Milan. His football journey began at Bordeaux, and he subsequently went on loan spells at Atalanta, Pescara, and Cagliari before ultimately joining Inter.
Despite his appearances for the Italy U21 team, Bellanova is still awaiting his opportunity to make his debut for the senior national team. In the current season, he has been limited to just nine matches, experiencing a relatively reduced playing time.
6. Alex Sandro (Juventus)
Since making his move from Deportivo Maldonado, Brazilian left-back Alex Sandro has been based in Europe since 2011. His first destination was FC Porto, where he showcased his skills before departing the Portuguese giants in 2015.
Sandro then embarked on a new chapter in his career, joining Juventus. During his time with the Italian powerhouse, he has amassed an impressive record, featuring in over 200 games. He has been part of Juventus’ successful campaigns in Serie A and has also witnessed the team’s recent decline in form.
Recognized as one of the finest left-backs in the world, Alex Sandro is highly regarded for his abilities. He holds a pivotal role in the Brazilian national team, contributing to their success on the international stage.
5. Simon Mignolet (Belgium)
Among the goalkeepers mentioned, Simon Mignolet is one of only two who dons the number twelve jersey.
While Mignolet wore number 22 during his time at Liverpool and his current club Club Brugge. He switched to the number 12 jersey when representing the Belgian national team.
As a Premier League veteran, Mignolet has accumulated considerable experience, having played for Sunderland and Liverpool from 2010 to 2019. However, the 34-year-old goalkeeper has now made a return to the Belgian Pro League.
4. Emerson Royal (Spurs)
Emerson’s transfer to Tottenham came as a surprise, considering the Brazilian defender had recently joined Barcelona in 2019. Following his arrival at Camp Nou. He was sent on loan to Betis, where he made 67 appearances, before being transferred to Tottenham last year.
During his brief stint at Barcelona, the 23-year-old right-back featured in only three matches before making the move to England. However, he has become a regular presence under manager Antonio Conte at Tottenham this season.
Despite occasionally struggling with inconsistency, Emerson is widely regarded as one of the top right-backs in the world. He showcased his talent and potential in his performances.
3. Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United)
Dutch young talent Tyrell Malacia made a notable transfer from Feyenoord to Manchester United. This is where he has already appeared in nine Premier League matches and five UEFA Europa League matches.
Malacia took over the number 12 jersey at Manchester United, previously worn by Chris Smalling.
At the age of 23, Malacia earned a spot in the Dutch national team, participating in the World Cup in Qatar. He showed impressive performances for Manchester United under coach Erik Ten Hag.
2. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been a consistent presence for the Chelsea team throughout the current season. He featured prominently in both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
At 26 years old, Loftus-Cheek has made 14 appearances in the Premier League and 5 appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
Although he represented England in the previous World Cup. He did not have the opportunity to participate in the tournament in Qatar as he was not included in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Despite being underrated, Loftus-Cheek is a versatile footballer capable of playing multiple positions. Which contributes to his reputation as one of the top players wearing the number 12 jersey.
1. William Saliba (Arsenal)
21-year-old William Saliba has made a significant impact on the Premier League stage with exceptional performances in defense. The talented French defender has already featured in 14 matches for Arsenal this season, impressively scoring two goals and providing an assist.
His contributions have not only propelled Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table. But has also caught the attention of the French national team selectors, earning him a call-up to the World Cup squad.
Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint Etienne but was immediately loaned back to the French club. He also spent loan spells at Nice and Marseille before making his mark at Arsenal.
Upon his arrival at Arsenal, Saliba was assigned the number 12 jersey, taking over from Hector Bellerín who departed the club.
With his immense impact at the heart of Arsenal’s defense, William Saliba has established himself as one of the standout footballers. These are the players who proudly wear the number 12 jersey for their respective clubs.
Conclusion soccer players with th number 12 jersey
In conclusion, the significance of the number 18 jersey in soccer has been demonstrated through the talents and achievements of numerous players.
The number 18 has been adorned by players who have showcased their skill, determination, and passion on the pitch.
Each player mentioned in this article has brought their own unique qualities to their respective teams. They made vital contributions to their clubs and national teams.
As fans, we continue to admire and appreciate the impact these soccer players have made while proudly wearing the number 18 jersey. They will forever etch their names for the beautiful game.
That’s a wrap for soccer players with the number 12!
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