Fermín López Takes Over Barcelona's No. 7 Shirt
Fermín López has stepped into one of FC Barcelona’s most storied shirts. The La Masia midfielder is the new No. 7 at the club, taking over from Ferran Torres after the Spaniard’s move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Ferran’s departure to PSG last week, in a deal worth close to €50 million and tied to a five-year contract running until 2031, did more than free up a place in the squad. It unlocked a number that carries weight at Barça. Debate among supporters was instant: who would dare pick up the 7?
Now the answer is official. La Liga’s registration shows Fermín López listed as Barcelona’s new No. 7, abandoning the No. 16 he has worn over the past two seasons.
A statement of trust in Fermín
This is not a marketing gimmick. It is a statement about status.
Under Hansi Flick, Fermín has become a central pillar of Barcelona’s midfield. The academy graduate produced a standout 2025/26 campaign, driving the team through key stretches of the season and playing a decisive role in both the La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup win.
His year ended with a sting. An injury late in the campaign ruled him out of Spain’s World Cup trip to North America, a brutal blow for a player on a sharp upward curve. But the setback has not lingered. Fully recovered, Fermín has impressed again in pre-season, snapping into challenges, demanding the ball, and looking every bit like a player ready to carry more responsibility.
Now he will do it with the No. 7 on his back.
A heavy shirt with a long memory
At Barcelona, certain numbers come with a history lesson. No. 7 is one of them.
Most recently, it belonged to Ferran Torres. Before him it passed through the hands of Ousmane Dembélé, Antoine Griezmann, and Philippe Coutinho – big names, big transfer fees, mixed legacies.
Go further back and the list gets even richer. Arda Turan wore it. Pedro Rodríguez, the tireless winger of Guardiola’s great side, wore it. So did David Villa, whose goals helped deliver some of the club’s most glittering nights.
The number has also been carried by Luis Figo, Eusebio, and, briefly, Pep Guardiola himself. For a homegrown midfielder like Fermín, stepping into that lineage marks a clear elevation. Barcelona are not just giving him minutes; they are giving him a symbol.
A new look for Barça’s spine
The renumbering at Barcelona does not stop with Fermín.
Earlier this month, the club confirmed that Joan García will take the No. 1 shirt after Marc-André ter Stegen’s exit, a significant changing of the guard in goal. Wojciech Szczęsny has been assigned No. 13, underlining his role in the goalkeeping rotation.
More tweaks are coming. New arrivals Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon are still waiting for their numbers, a small detail that often hints at how a squad will be structured and who the club sees as automatic starters.
For now, though, one decision already tells a clear story. In a summer of exits and arrivals, Barcelona have planted their flag in the future by handing a La Masia midfielder the No. 7 and asking him to live up to a shirt that remembers everything.
