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New West Ham forward Haller picks squad number 22

By Jeremiah Carson

UTRECHT, NETHERLANDS - APRIL 09: Sebastien Haller of FC Twente battles for the ball with Jeroen van der Lely of FC Utrecht during the Dutch Eredivisie match between FC Utrecht and FC Twente at Stadion Galgenwaard on April 9, 2017 in Utrecht, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
UTRECHT, NETHERLANDS - APRIL 09: Sebastien Haller of FC Twente battles for the ball with Jeroen van der Lely of FC Utrecht during the Dutch Eredivisie match between FC Utrecht and FC Twente at Stadion Galgenwaard on April 9, 2017 in Utrecht, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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The new record signing for West Ham United, Sebastien Haller, revealed today that he will be wearing the number 22 this season. With number becoming somewhat of a trend for squads, why did he pick this number?

Before we dive into other famous 22’s for West Ham and why he went with it, check out the video that the club posted this morning revealing Sebastien Haller’s new digits for this season.

This was a very well-timed tweet and idea as the Hammers have 22 days left until the new start of the Premier League season and what a way to announce it as well, I think we can all appreciate the cleanness of the clubs announcements these days. But why 22?

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Just days before Haller signed, the club gave Chicharito number 9 and Yarmolenko number 7 which would’ve been the preferred numbers for the Frenchman as he was previously a 9 at Frankfurt last season. The options available for him were 17,20,22,27,28,29, and 36.

There was a possibility however that more players could be moving on such as Hugill 12 and Obiang 14 but Haller went with some history from his past and went with the number 22.

Nothing has been spoken as to why he picked it however, it was his number when he played for FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie league in the Netherlands from 2015-2017. Interestingly enough, around this time was when West Ham first starting scouting a young Haller but didn’t pull the trigger until this season.

When we look back at the history of the number 22 with West Ham, we don’t find a very long list of names. Most recently, Sam Byram, Angelo Ogbonna, and Jussi Jaaskelainen. The number 22 was mostly given as a squad number and never lasted long, the longest time duration that it was held was by Craig Forest from 1997/2002.

Yarmolenko chasing history?. dark. Next

It’s always but fun open the archives and look at why a player picks certain things, but I think it’s also important to note that we don’t care what number he dons this year, just as long as the volleys look sick and goals are plentiful.