Barcelona is fielding a new player wearing its iconic number 9 shirt for the first time since Robert Lewandowski’s departure. Multiple outlets report that the number 9 role is being tried in a match against Birmingham on Friday, described as the first appearance of the shirt in the club’s post-Lewandowski period. The coverage does not indicate that the player is permanently replacing Lewandowski, but frames the match as an early step in identifying Barcelona’s next central striker or primary forward figure. The reports focus on the significance of the number 9 being worn in that specific game, suggesting the club is using the fixture to evaluate options. Beyond the change in personnel tied to the shirt number, the provided sources do not add further detail about tactics, contract status, or performance outcomes in the match. Overall, the articles agree that Barcelona uses the Birmingham fixture to introduce a new number 9 as part of its transition after Lewandowski.