Phil Foden wears number 47 for Manchester City and has the number tattooed in small print on the side of his neck, just beneath his right ear. Both are a tribute to his grandfather Ronnie, who died at the age of 47. AS USA reported the tattoo and its family meaning in a 14 July 2024 article, and the same outlet later updated its coverage on 11 March 2026 with more detail about Ronnie.
The tribute behind the number
The number is personal, not a superstition or a squad-number decision made for football reasons. AS USA reports that Foden keeps 47 in memory of his grandfather Ronnie, who died when he was 47. The same figure is the reason the number is on his shirt and on his skin.
Shirt number and tattoo: how the two connect
Foden’s City shirt and his tattoo carry the same number, and the sources treat them as one tribute rather than two separate choices.
| Element | What it is | Reported by | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City shirt number | Number 47, worn by Foden in the club’s first team | AS USA, 14 July 2024 | AS USA says he has worn it since his first-team debut in the 2017–18 season. Squad numbers can change, so check the club’s current listing. |
| Neck tattoo | A small number 47 on the side of the neck, beneath the right ear | AS USA, 14 July 2024 | Described as small in size; no exact date for when it was inked is given in the coverage. |
| Meaning | Tribute to grandfather Ronnie, who died at 47 | AS USA, 14 July 2024; updated 11 March 2026 | The link to Ronnie’s age is the stated reason for the number. |
Where the 2017 debut fits in
Foden’s first-team debut came as a substitute against Feyenoord in the Champions League in November 2017, according to AS USA. That debut is the point from which he has worn 47 for City, but it is not why he chose the number. Treat the debut as the start of the shirt’s history, not as the origin of its meaning.
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Ronnie’s place in the story
AS USA’s March 2026 update adds that Ronnie was a Manchester City supporter and did not live to see Foden make his first-team debut. The same report says Foden has kept the number even after becoming an established player, and that his first son was given the name Ronnie. These details explain why the tribute has lasted, but the basic reason stays the same: the number honours his grandfather’s age at death.
What the interview does and does not show
A Apple Podcasts listing for a 24 April 2024 episode of It’s All Kicking Off! features Foden in an interview with football editor and host Ian Ladyman, and the listing says he discusses why he wears number 47. The accessible listing does not include a transcript or his own words on the subject, so this article does not quote him. Readers who want his exact account should listen to the episode directly.
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Fan merchandise
Manchester City’s official website promotes a Phil Foden #47 shirt. Stock levels and pricing change over time, and availability was not confirmed for this article’s publication date, so check the club’s store before buying.
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