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Joao Pedro takes the number nine shirt at Chelsea, aiming to break the long-standing curse associated with it at Stamford Bridge.

Brazilian striker Joao Pedro has taken on a significant challenge in West London by choosing the legendary and simultaneously ominous number nine shirt for Chelsea.

The weight of decades of disappointment, borne by a host of strikers who have worn the number nine at Stamford Bridge, keeps Chelsea fans on their toes. However, with his remarkable skill, composure, and confidence, the Brazilian could finally rewrite history and lift the long-standing curse.

The litany of woe: number nines at Chelsea

  • Mateja Kezman (2004/05) – arrived with a reputation as a prolific scorer but managed just 4 goals in the Premier League before leaving after a year;
  • Hernan Crespo (2005/06) – had an inconsistent spell and never really established himself in England;
  • Khalid Boulahrouz (2006/07) – the defender shocked fans by taking the number nine shirt, remembered only for a series of injuries and costly errors;
  • Steve Sidwell (2007/08) – a forgettable season spent primarily on the bench;
  • Franco Di Santo (2008/09 - 2009/10) – failed to score a single goal during his time in the first team;
  • Fernando Torres (2010/11 - 2014/15) – the record signing at £50m turned into a nightmare as he endured a prolonged goal drought;
  • Radamel Falcao (2015/16) – a disastrous loan spell with just 1 goal across the season;
  • Alvaro Morata (2017/18) – lost confidence, suffered endless offsides, and changed his shirt number after just one season;
  • Gonzalo Higuain (2018/19) – a forgettable six months on loan left little impact;
  • Tammy Abraham (2019/20 - 2021/22) – a bright start quickly faded as he lost the backing of the coaching staff, leading to his sale;
  • Romelu Lukaku (2021/22) – a record £115m transfer followed by a controversial interview and swift exit from the club;
  • Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022/23) – left to languish in the reserves following the sacking of the manager who brought him in;
  • Liam Delap (from 2024/25) – failed to secure a starting spot and was put up for transfer after just one season.

This season is pivotal for Joao Pedro at Chelsea, as his goal-scoring prowess and leadership qualities will not only dictate the team's success but also potentially free the club from the grip of its longstanding superstitions.