What is ‘007’ in Football?

Football enthusiasts on social media have been actively monitoring players who face the embarrassment of being labeled ‘007’.

The term is used as a jab at offensive players who have not managed to score or provide an assist within their first seven matches at a new club.

This trend began in 2021 after a graphic from Sky Germany showcased recent Manchester United recruit Jadon Sancho donning a James Bond-themed tuxedo alongside the catchy phrase “they call me 007 – zero goals, zero assists, seven games.” Sancho had just concluded a £73 million transfer to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund amid extensive speculation about his move.

Current ‘007’ Players in the Premier League

Among the latest players to attract the ‘007’ nickname is Florian Wirtz, who joined Liverpool for a whopping £116.5 million but has yet to score or assist in his opening seven Premier League outings. However, he did contribute an assist during his debut in the Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace in August.

Additionally, Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha, who was acquired from Wolves for £62.5 million over the summer, has also joined the ranks of ‘007’ players.

His team-mate Benjamin Sesko, valued at £74 million, narrowly escaped this unwanted label by scoring his first goal in his sixth match for the club during a 3-1 defeat to Brentford.

Everton’s Thierno Barry, who transferred from Villarreal for £27 million, is another player without any goal contributions in the current season.

There is a history of Premier League players who have started slowly after moving clubs and eventually found great success; a notable example is Thierry Henry. The Arsenal legend took eight games to score his first goal back in 1999, ultimately netting 175 Premier League goals and clinching four Golden Boot awards during his career in England.

Similarly, Cunha also experienced a tough start at Wolves, where he turned things around to score 33 goals in three seasons at Molineux.

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