Philadelphia Union confirm Derrick Jones squad number

According to a photo released by the club, new Philadelphia Union midfielder Derrick Jones will wear number 21 for the club. With the Philadelphia Union Academy, Jones' number was not set in stone as he wore numbers 4, 10, and 12 when with the Academy. While with Bethlehem Steel FC and during his first team appearance with the Union, Jones had worn number 35. The reason for the switch to 21 was that Earnie Stewart has instituted a policy where first team players can only wear numbers 1 through 33, a source with the Union revealed. 

Jones isn't the first player to wear the number 21 – that honor went to Costa Rican international (and 2014 World Cup Quarterfinalist) David Myrie, who wore it for his lone appearance with the club. The number was recycled when Eduardo Coudet took it upon his arrival later in 2010. The longest serving number 21 was Michael Farfan, who wore the number from 2011 until he was sold to Cruz Azul in 2013. In 2014, Maurice Edu wore the number for the season after coming over from Stoke City. 21 has been available since Edu vacated it in 2015 for his current number 8.