João Pedro Takes Chelsea's Infamous No.9 Shirt
Chelsea have nailed down their squad numbers for the new season, and most of it reads as you’d expect: a few tweaks, a few fresh arrivals slotted in. Then you reach one decision that jumps off the page.
João Pedro has taken the No.9 shirt.
Not just any number. At Chelsea, it’s the one that seems to swallow centre-forwards whole.
João Pedro walks into the storm
For two decades, that blue No.9 has been less a shirt and more a warning sign. Big reputations have walked through the door, pulled it on, and watched their form evaporate.
Fernando Torres arrived as one of the most feared strikers in Europe. Álvaro Morata, Romelu Lukaku, Radamel Falcao, Gonzalo Higuaín, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — all came with pedigree, all left with the sense that something never quite clicked. Go back further and you find Mateja Kežman, Franco Di Santo, Tony Cascarino, Chris Sutton. All struggled to leave a lasting mark in that jersey.
Even those who did reasonably well never truly broke free of the narrative. Hernán Crespo produced moments, but not the era-defining stint his talent promised. Tammy Abraham came closest to rewriting the story, yet his time still felt like a promising chapter rather than a definitive ending.
Since Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink smashed 23 league goals in 2001-02 — 29 in all competitions — no Chelsea No.9 has matched that kind of dominance. Abraham’s 15 league goals in 2019-20 stand as the modern high point. Torres hit 22 in all competitions in 2012-13, but needed 64 appearances and a long Europa League run to get there, and only 8 of those came in the Premier League.
The shirt has weighed heavy. Liam Delap’s brief, barren spell in it only added to the legend of the “curse”.
João Pedro has chosen to wear it anyway.
Fofana steps into No.3 as numbers shuffle
The No.9 switch isn’t the only notable change on the list.
Wesley Fofana has moved into the No.3 shirt, previously worn by Marc Cucurella. It’s a traditional defender’s number and, for a player Chelsea still see as a long-term pillar of their back line, it feels like a statement of faith and status.
Fofana’s old No.29 hasn’t stayed vacant for long. New signing Pep Chavarría takes it on as he begins his Chelsea career, inheriting a number that has its own recent history at the club.
Dário Essugo and Tosin Adarabioyo have also been assigned fresh numbers as the squad takes shape in the final days before the season kicks off.
The full list is set for now, but not set in stone. With more than ten days left in the transfer window and only 25 registration spots available, there’s still room for late movement — and maybe one or two more twists before the first whistle blows.
But one decision is already locked in: when Chelsea’s new campaign starts, João Pedro will walk out wearing that infamous No.9.
He either breaks the curse, or becomes the next name on a long, uneasy list.
