Sebastiaan Bornauw’s most-likely Leeds United shirt number has just become available this week

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Leeds United are now expected to announce the signing of Wolfsburg defender Sebastiaan Bornauw on Tuesday, with the Belgian having undergone a medical on Monday.

The 26-year-old is set to become the club’s third summer signing after Lukas Nmecha and Jaka Bijol, as Leeds agree a £5m fee with Wolfsburg. Bornauw had entered the final 12 months of his Wolfsburg deal.

Leeds have moved to sign another centre-back after informing Max Wober that he can leave the club this summer, while Pascal Struijk is seen as a potential sale to boost the club’s PSR position if required.

A deal is expected to be wrapped up and announced come Tuesday, with Leeds expected to be busy over the next week before the team returns to pre-season on July 7. But which number will Bornauw wear?

• READ MORE: Five facts about new signing Sebastiaan Bornauw, including his underwear superstition

Which numbers has Sebastiaan Bornauw worn during his career?

Coming through at Anderlecht before his move to German football six years ago, Bornauw wore the no.45 shirt. He stuck with the 45 until he did move to Germany, initially with Bundesliga side Koln.

Currently, the no.45 shirt is vacant at Elland Road – one above Ilia Gruev. A player that Bornauw faced during his time with Wolfsburg, which saw Gruev’s Werder Bremen secure a 2-1 win in January 2023.

At Koln, Bornauw was given the 33 shirt. He remained with the 33 shirt until he moved to Wolfsburg, but Isaac Schmidt currently boasts that number at Leeds and Bornauw will have to choose a different shirt.

Bornauw’s preferred number has just become available this week

The defender has worn 2, 15, 16 and 20 during his four caps with Belgium but for the last four seasons with Wolfsburg, in which he has played alongside Lukas Nmecha, Bornauw has worn Wolfsburg’s no.3

That number is set to become available this week, with Junior Firpo’s contract coming to an end at Elland Road. Firpo is off to Real Betis, with some Spanish reports saying Firpo’s move will be announced soon.

Firpo’s departure is likely to allow Bornauw to continue wearing the no.3 shirt having done so for the past four years at Wolfsburg. The Leeds players are back for pre-season at the beginning of next week.