Why ex-Everton midfielder has a different name on the back of his shirt after debut for new club

Former Everton midfielder Andros Townsend shocked fans when he appeared with a new name on the back of his shirt as he made his debut for Luton Town over the weekend.

Townsend, 32, made his debut for the Hatters during their comeback away draw with Nottingham Forest playing 18 minutes for the first time since his awful injury in 2022.

He left Everton after his deal expired following a long battle with a cruciate ligament injury that saw him miss over a year-and-a-half of football - and his current short-term deal will see him play at Kenilworth Road until the end of December where the club and player will re-evaluate their situation.

But his return saw him re-emerge with ‘Townsend Sr.’ on his new number 30 shirt which confused some fans in attendance, with one fan taking to social media to say, “Is Townsend Jr. in the squad? If not, I’m struggling with this!!!”

There’s a simple explanation, it is in reference to his four-year-old son who he and his wife, Irish model Hazel O’Sullivan, welcomed in 2019.

Originally, he had trained with Burnley ahead of a proposed move earlier this summer, but the club opted not to take him on and he had to wait until the international break before signing as a free agent with another newly-promoted side.

Townsend played 27 times for Everton after signing as a free agent following his time at Crystal Palace. He penned a two-year-deal in 2021 and went on to play 27 times for the club, netting seven times.

His stand-out moment was undoubtedly his first goal for the club, which ended up winning the Premier League ’Goal of the Month’ competition. His 30-yard-strike against Burnley was a thing of beauty and it was the perfect way to announce himself to the Goodison faithful.

Unfortunately, despite 11 goal contributions in 27 games, his time at Everton was cut short by the long-term injury but now he’s found himself back in the Premier League after a lengthy absence.