Swansea sign Renato Sanches from Bayern Munich on season-long loan... but player is forced to change No 85 squad number within hours to No 35!
- Portugal international Renato Sanches has joined Swansea on a temporary deal
- The 20-year-old joins from Bayern Munich after a tough first season in Germany
- The Welsh club have no option to turn the deal permanent before next summer
- READ: Sanches deal tops the lot in the craziest transfer window of them all
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Swansea City confirmed the shock signing of Portugal international Renato Sanches on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich earlier on Thursday, but the move didn't get off to the best of starts.
The club were forced to change the player's squad number just hours after confirming the switch due to Premier League rules on them being consecutive and close to the current highest number already designated.
Swansea initially revealed the 20-year-old, one of Europe's hottest properties last summer, would wear the No 85, a number the player wore during his time at Benfica.
Renato Sanches has signed for Swansea on a season-long loan and will wear the No 35
But he will now wear the No 35 at the Liberty Stadium, as at Bayern Munich after joining the Bundesliga champions for £30million last summer.
The club's Twitter account posted: 'It was all going so well... The #PL reject the number 85 for @renatosanches35. He will now wear 35 for the #Swans this season.'
His move to the Welsh club comes with the expectation that he will see regular first-team action at the Liberty Stadium. There is no option to buy when the deal comes to an end next summer.
The sensational move has been aided by current Swans boss Paul Clement having worked with the midfielder at the Allianz Arena while acting as assistant to Carlo Ancelotti.
And his healthy relationship with the European giants has seen them entrust the English coach with one of their most promising talents.
Sanches arrives following a disappointing first season at Bayern after his switch from Benfica
Renato Sanches has completed his move from Bayern Munich to Swansea City on loan
'We are delighted that we have reached agreement with Swansea City on the loan,' said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
'It was our goal for Renato to be used regularly by a club in a very strong league such as the Premier League.
'We are still convinced that he has the potential to become an important player for Bayern in the future.'
Named the best young player at the tournament as Portugal won Euro 2016, Swansea used a video of Sanches and compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo to announce the signing in a Twitter video.
The former Benfica player made 26 appearances in all competitions for Bayern last season as they lifted the Bundesliga shield, but made just six starts in the German top flight.
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