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Joao Palhinha has been handed his dream Tottenham shirt number following his loan move to the club. The Portugal international joined Spurs on a season-long loan deal from Bayern Munich on Sunday evening after limited first-team football in his debut campaign in Bavaria.

At the time of the transfer announcement, Tottenham did not confirm a shirt number for their new signing for the 2025/26 season. That has now become clear with the experienced player becoming Tottenham's new No.6 ahead of his potential debut for the club in Thursday's pre-season friendly against parent club Bayern Munich.

The 30-year-old is a big fan of having the No.6 on his back if his shirt number history is anything to go by. Wearing No.66 for Sporting CP after breaking into the team, he then took on the No.60 shirt in his two years on loan at SC Braga before returning to Sporting and inheriting the No.6 jersey.

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Palhinha then wore No.26 for Fulham and No.16 for Bayern Munich, with the player regularly sporting No.6 on international duty for Portugal.

“I try to choose always a number with a six – sometimes it’s not available but since I started my career, it was a number that I’ve had with me because of my family,” he told Tottenham's official website.

“It means a lot for me because of my grandfather… it’s the day that he left our family and since my grandfather died, if I have a look, a lot of important things in my life have happened on this day, with the number six. I can remember my first goal... everything that has been important in my career – not just the career, but in other things as well – most of the days have the number six.

“I’m a bit superstitious and I believe always that this number has an important meaning for me and my family and this is why I want to keep, if possible, the number with me on the shirt.”

The No.6 shirt at Tottenham became available after Radu Dragusin elected to change his number for the new campaign. The Romanian will now wear No.3 for Tottenham, the same number he wears for the Romania national team.

The centre-back has replaced Sergio Reguilon as the club's No.3 after the Spaniard departed Tottenham at the end of June following the conclusion of his contract in north London. Speaking to Tottenham's official website about his new shirt number, Dragusin said: "I feel like this number represents me.

"I have been wearing it in the national team since three years ago and I just feel it really represents who I am – someone who is always ready to give everything for the team. Now, I’m really proud to wear it in north London."