Today (January 6), Manchester United announced Jack Butland joined the team on loan from Crystal Palace until the end of the 2022/23 season.
Butland said: “This is a fantastic club and one that I am proud to represent. I’m really looking forward to working with an excellent group of goalkeepers who support each other every day to create the best training and competition environment for the team.”
Butland’s new shirt number.
Right away, Man Utd also gave Butland the number 31 shirt. This shirt number previously belonged to Martin Dubravka himself. The Slovakian goalkeeper had to part ways with Man Utd after Newcastle United activated the call-back clause.
Butland became the third goalkeeper to wear the number 31 shirt in the history of the Reds, after Dubravka (half of the 2022/22) season and Nick Culkin (in the 1998/99 and 1999/2000 seasons).
Other famous names to have worn this shirt include: Nemanja Matic (2017/18 to 2021/22), Bastian Schweinsteiger (2015/16 to 2016/17), Marouane Fellaini (2013/14 to 2014/15) and Darren Fletcher (2001/02 to 2002/03).
Xiao Lam | 19:13 January 6, 2023
