Tottenham's current record signing has already been handed his shirt number for the season ahead under Roberto De Zerbi
Mateus Fernandes will wear the number 18 shirt at Tottenham after sealing his £85million transfer from West Ham.
Fernandes has become Spurs ' record signing, if only for a day or so, before the north London club complete their £100million move for Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali. The 21-year-old Portuguese requested the shirt number 18 that he has worn throughout his two years in the Premier League at both West Ham and Southampton.
The number was worn previously by Spurs' South Korean youngster Yang Min-hyeok but the 20-year-old winger, who also wore 18 during a difficult loan spell at Coventry, will get a new number when he returns for pre-season training on July 10 after record signing Fernandes' request.
Players do not automatically lose their number when they head out on loan but Tottenham have made the change happen for their expensive new arrival.
Yang, who is yet to make a competitive appearance for Tottenham, has previously worn the number 47 both on loan at Portsmouth and QPR as that was his number as he broke through at Gangwon. The attacker may well decide to revert to that number this month when he returns to Hotspur Way.
Fernandes is taking a number that was previously worn by Giovani Lo Celso, Fernando Llorente and briefly Harry Kane after Jermain Defoe became the main man associated with 18. Before that the likes of Jurgen Klinsmann and Steffen Iversen and Milenko Acimovic all wore the number.
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"I'm very excited for this next step. Tottenham is a massive club and the head coach was a key part of why I have decided to join," he said. "When we spoke it was very special. We look at football in the same way - going onto the pitch as a strong team, with fight and energy, to try and win every game.
"I can't wait to get started, to meet the fans, to meet everyone, and give everything for the club."
Roberto De Zerbi added: "I've admired Mateus for a long time because he combines quality on the ball with the intensity and intelligence that are so important in the way we want to play," said the Spurs boss.
"Despite his age, he already has good experience in the Premier League and has shown quality and consistency at this level. Mateus is comfortable under pressure, can progress the ball, works hard for the team and has the courage to make things happen in difficult moments.
"I believe this is the ideal environment for him to continue his development and I'm excited to start working with him."