After Chelsea's new signing Liam Delap confirmed he would wear the number 9 shirt next season, we take a look at previous stars who could not overcome the shirt's 'curse'.
Check Out: Official: Chelsea Secure First Big Signing
Chelsea completed the signing of Liam Delap from relegated Ipswich Town for £30 million (R723 million) after netting 12 goals in 37 league games last season.
Delap joined Chelsea ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup and, shortly after his signing, revealed he would wear the number 9 jersey next season.
However, Blues fans will be hoping the Englishman will break the 'curse' that has seemingly plagued the number for more than two decades.
Back in August 2022, then-Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel revealed that 'nobody wants to touch' the number 9 shirt as many at the club believed it to be 'cursed', according to The Guardian.
"It’s cursed, it’s cursed, people tell me it’s cursed,” he said at the time. “It’s not the case that we leave it open for tactical reasons, for some players in the pipeline that come in and naturally take it.
Several high-profile names have tried to break the curse but without success.
Fernando Torres took the number 9 shirt upon his arrival from Liverpool but he failed to hit the heights achieved at Anfield, scoring just 45 goals in 172 games at Chelsea.
Fellow Spaniard Alvaro Morata arrived from Real Madrid in 2017 and took the infamous shirt in his first season, netting 15 goals in 48 games, but decided to change his number to 29 the following season.
Romelu Lukaku returned to Chelsea after a successful stint in Italy but he only lasted one season wearing the number 9 shirt, scoring just 15 goals in 44 games before returning to Inter Milan.
Here is a look at nine former Chelsea strikers who were plagued by the 'number 9 curse', according to The Pride of London.
*All stats according to Transfermarkt*
