Chelsea have announced that their latest acquisition, Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, will wear the club’s legendary — and frequently unlucky — No. 9 shirt.
As the Blues prepare for their return to Champions League football in the 2025–2026 season, Liam Delap, 22, becomes Enzo Maresca’s second summer signing following the addition of Portuguese midfielder Dario Essugo.
After Ipswich’s relegation from the Premier League, the highly rated forward triggered a release clause in his contract and has now signed a long-term deal at Stamford Bridge following a successful medical examination. His transfer was approved last week and completed on Wednesday.
Shortly after confirming his arrival, Chelsea officially announced that Delap would wear the No. 9 shirt — a number with a troubled history at the West London club, long considered “cursed.” The former Manchester City academy product took on this number.
Delap is the 18th player to don Chelsea’s number, joining a roster that features Romelu Lukaku, Fernando Torres, Alvaro Morata, and most recently Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — all of whom faced challenges in meeting expectations while wearing the iconic jersey.
Romelu Lukaku, whose return to Chelsea in 2021 for £98 million ended in disappointment, was the most notable victim of the so-called curse.
Having lost the manager’s favour, the Belgian striker experienced several loan spells in Italy before last summer completing a permanent transfer to Napoli for £30 million. In his last days at Chelsea, he trained with the club’s outcasts, known as the “bomb squad.”
Regardless of the jersey’s history, Chelsea fans will hope that Delap can beat the odds and become a dependable presence in the attack — something the club has been missing in recent seasons.
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In the meantime, Chelsea made a squad number change announcement for Cole Palmer as well. The England international, who has made a strong impression since his transfer from Manchester City in 2023, will change from his current No. 20 shirt to the prestigious No. 10.
A club statement read: “Supporters are reminded that the complete list of squad numbers for the 2025/2026 season will be confirmed after the summer transfer window has closed.”
As Chelsea gears up for a challenging season in both domestic and European competitions, the spotlight will be on Delap to see if he can end the No. 9 curse and provide the goals that Stamford Bridge has been longing for.
