Tottenham star Micky van de Ven reveals the poignant reason behind his decision to wear the No 37 shirt after his £43m arrival in north London

Micky van de Ven has lifted the lead on the reason why he chose to wear the No 37 after signing for Tottenham in 2023. 

The Dutch defender has quickly become a fan favourite at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having signed for Ange Postecoglou’s side for £43million last summer from Wolfsburg. 

The Dutch speedster has become a mainstay in the Tottenham side when fit alongside Cristian Romero, although he missed 10 games earlier this term with a hamstring injury.

While most centre backs traditionally wear a No 4, No 5 or No 6 shirt, Van de Ven’s decision to wear No 37 raised a few eyebrows on his arrival. 

However, the defender announced his reasons, which involve a childhood friend whose favourite number was 37. 

While most centre back usually adopt the No 4, No 5 or No 6, Van de Ven plays in the No 37

‘With a friend of mine, he passed away when we were younger, and it was always his favourite number,’ Van de Ven revealed.

‘So when I had the opportunity to choose No 37 when I signed for Tottenham… to be honest, it’s for him.’ 

Van de Ven arrived over the summer alongside Alejo Veliz, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Manor Solomon, and Brennan Johnson – as well as manager Postecoglou. 

This term, the Australian manager has transformed Spurs from a side receiving plenty of criticism for their style of play under Antonio Conte, into one of the most dynamic, high-octane outfits in the Premier League in 2023-24. 

The Spurs star is not the only player to adopt a shirt number for sentimental reasons, with several Ajax stars and academy graduates having done the same. 

Donny Van de Beek took on the No 34 when he signed for Manchester United, as did Joel Veltman at Brighton and Justin Kluivert at Roma in tribute to former Ajax starlet Abdelhak Nouri. 

Donny Van de Beek took the No 34 shirt at Manchester United as tribute to Ajax starlet Abdelhak Nouri

Nouri collapsed during a pre-season game with Werder Bremen in 2017, with the player suffering brain damage as a result of cardiac arrest, thereby ending his playing career. 

The north London club are currently fourth in the table – three points behind arch-nemesis Arsenal – and will face Everton in the early kick-off at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon.