João Pedro is ready to rewrite Chelsea’s long-standing number 9 shirt narrative after taking on one of the most scrutinised squad numbers at Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The Brazilian forward has switched from the number 20 shirt he wore during his first season at Chelsea to the dreaded number 9 jersey, a number that has carried significant pressure due to the struggles of several high-profile attackers who have worn it in recent years.
This has led many fans and pundicts to believe that the squad number is cursed which is why a lot of attackers have failed to deliver in the number.
But unlike previous players who have been weighed down by the history attached to the number, João Pedro insists the shirt itself is not responsible for the struggles of past Chelsea strikers and is unshaken to take up the number.
“The No.9 curse doesn’t scare me, it motivates me. I asked for it because I want the responsibility of being Chelsea’s main striker. The number doesn’t bring bad luck, the player does. I’m here to break the curse and make the No.9 special again.”
João Pedro
The 24-year-old inherits the shirt from Liam Delap, who wore that number during the 2025/26 campaign after joining Chelsea from Ipswich Town.
Delap, however, endured a difficult season, scoring only two goals in all competitions, with his strikes coming against Fulham in the Premier League and Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. The English forward has now been assigned the number 12 shirt.
João Pedro’s decision to take the number comes after an impressive first campaign in west London.
The forward scored more than 20 goals across all competitions after joining from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth around £60 million and quickly establishing himself as one of Chelsea’s most influential attacking players.
His arrival was immediately impactful during the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, where he scored three goals despite joining the squad at the quarter-final stage.
His performances helped Chelsea lift the trophy, further strengthening his reputation as a player capable of delivering on major occasions.
Despite his strong form and being named Chelsea’s Player of the Year, João Pedro was surprisingly left out of Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, the disappointment has not affected his confidence as he prepares to lead Chelsea’s attack wearing the club’s most demanding shirt number.
A Shirt Burdened by History
The No.9 shirt at Chelsea has developed a reputation for being difficult to succeed in, with many celebrated forwards failing to reach expectations after taking on the responsibility.
Since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink enjoyed a successful spell wearing the number in the early 2000s, several attackers have struggled to replicate his impact.
Players including Hernán Crespo, Mateja Kezman, Franco Di Santo, Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Álvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain, Tammy Abraham, Romelu Lukaku and Delap have all faced challenges while wearing the shirt.
Torres arrived at Chelsea from Liverpool in 2011 for a then-British record transfer fee of £50 million after becoming one of Europe’s most feared strikers at Atlético Madrid and Liverpool.
Although he produced memorable moments, including his famous Champions League semi-final goal against Barcelona, he never consistently matched the goalscoring levels expected of him.
Morata also experienced a similar decline after taking the No.9 shirt following his move from Real Madrid in 2017. The Spaniard started strongly but eventually struggled for confidence in front of goal before later switching to the No.29 shirt and he left Stamford Bridge midway through the 2018/19 season.
Romelu Lukaku, likewise, donned the number when he rejoined the club in 2021 from Inter Milan. After scoring on his second debut against Arsenal and looking like a player finally made for that shirt, the Belgian fizzled out and struggled for consistency.
He spent just a season and returned to Inter Milan on loan before joining Napoli on permanent basis. He has now joined Fenerbache in Turkey.
João Pedro Wants to Create His Own Legacy
The forward has already shown confidence ahead of the new campaign, scoring seven goals during his five matches in pre-season while wearing the No.20 shirt before officially making the switch.
João Pedro will wear the No.9 jersey for the first time when Chelsea begin their Premier League campaign with a short trip to Craven Cottage to face Fulham next Monday.
With expectations higher than ever, the Brazilian now has the opportunity to turn one of Chelsea’s most challenging shirt numbers into a symbol of success rather than disappointment that has for long bedevilled the number 9 jersey at Stamford Bridge.
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