Nico O’Reilly will don the No 33 shirt for the 2025/26 season, Manchester City confirmed this week — a symbolic upgrade that cements the 20‑year‑old’s transition from fringe first‑teamer into a player of growing importance in Pep Guardiola’s senior squad.
City’s official announcement mirrored the tone of renewal seen across the Etihad this summer.
Last season O’Reilly was officially Manchester City’s No 75, a number typically reserved for academy graduates making their breakthrough amid squad upheaval.
His apprenticeship at senior level came quietly, but his potential leapt into focus first in the FA Cup — scoring twice in the fifth round against Plymouth — and escalating to a man‑of‑the‑match display at Bournemouth where he assisted both goals after coming on at half‑time.
The change to No 33 reflects more than just a new digit behind his name; it signals promotion to City’s core senior roster.
The No 33 shirt holds rich City heritage.
Previous holders include Vincent Kompany, the centre‑back captain who lifted the 2019 Premier League, Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus, defender Matija Nastasić and even keepers Scott Carson and Kasper Schmeichel.
For O’Reilly, wearing a number once donned by club legends is not empty ceremony — it’s the kind of expectation City believe he can fulfil.
The immediate backdrop to the number swap was a new long‑term contract negotiated this summer amid reported interest from the Premier League and Bundesliga.
City rejected two bids from Bayer Leverkusen and declined temptation from unnamed domestic suitors, underlining how highly they value the homegrown midfielder‑turned‑left‑back.
According to multiple sources, entry to the senior squad was paid for in part through this proposed shirt number, granted only after terms were shaken out and finalised.
O’Reilly has been at City since he was eight years old, signing his first pro deal in July 2022, two years before a stunning youth‑team ‘scorpion kick’ and forty‑yard chip against Manchester United under‑18s earned him viral attention.
His senior debut arrived on 10 August 2024 as City beat Manchester United to lift the Community Shield — a match that marked a turning point in his role, even though he wore the squad’s highest shirt number.
That turning point fully emerged in the FA Cup.
Against Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round, he scored a double to rescue City, then the following weekend came the Bournemouth showdown, introduced at half‑time as a tactical gamble.
He delivered two assists from left‑back, and Guardiola later joked that he’d earned a starting role at Wembley.
“What we missed this season was heart, soul; the desire. That’s what we have to recover… and O’Reilly offered it in spades.”
The manager added that O’Reilly single‑handedly transformed the match after entering at the break.
Reflecting more broadly on the defender‑conversion, Guardiola said: “Physicality, presence… he’s an attacking midfielder, yet his composure with the ball and attentiveness defensively surprised us — he has pace, generosity to play in a position he’s not used to. Now in the back four we are stable; we have pace with Josko, Matheus and Nico and unbelievable leadership from Ruben.”
O’Reilly himself praised Guardiola’s influence in making that switch successful:
“I just remember one session when everyone was injured and I was placed at left‑back in training … it must have been two days later in the Salford game when I made it my position. I trusted what the manager thought. If I get something wrong in training, Pep will stop it and go through it with me on what I need to do. That has helped a lot”
The new No 33 shirt not only follows from a number originally assigned to young City players but it comes with a clear legacy.