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Manchester United have officially confirmed the squad number that their new goalkeeper Karl Darlow will wear following his transfer from Leeds United.

Earlier today, the club stated that Darlow has signed a two-year contract with the option to extend for an additional year. The experienced shot-stopper arrives to bolster United’s goalkeeping department ahead of the new season.

United had been seeking reinforcements between the posts after the departure of Andre Onana, who returned to Trabzonspor on another season-long loan. The Cameroonian international also spent the 2025/26 campaign with the Turkish side.

Meanwhile, Altay Bayindir and Radek Vitek are both expected to leave Old Trafford this summer in search of regular first-team football, which they are unlikely to secure at United.

Darlow emerged as a prime target for United thanks to his extensive Premier League experience and his availability as a free agent. Leeds United had made significant efforts to retain him after he impressed during the latter half of last season, overtaking Lucas Perri as their first-choice goalkeeper.

The Yorkshire club offered Darlow a new deal, but he opted to reject it in favour of making the move to Manchester United.

The Red Devils have now revealed that Darlow will wear the number 12 shirt, becoming the second signing under Michael Carrick’s management.

Although he most recently wore number 26 at Leeds, Darlow is no stranger to the number 12, having previously used it during his spells with Hull City and Nottingham Forest.

He inherits the shirt from Tyrell Malacia, the Dutch defender who left United at the end of last month following the expiry of his contract.

Before Malacia, the number 12 shirt was worn by English centre-back Chris Smalling, who claimed two Premier League titles with the club. Ben Foster was the last goalkeeper to don the number.

Club legend Bryan Robson was the first player to wear number 12 before switching to the iconic number seven, with which he remains most famously identified.

Other notable players to have worn the number include David Bellion, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, and David May.