Chelsea’s No.9 shirt has become infamous among fans and pundits alike, often associated with a string of high-profile strikers who failed to meet expectations at Stamford Bridge. The number, traditionally worn by a club’s main goalscorer, has been something of a jinx for the Blues in recent decades. Several renowned forwards have struggled to replicate their previous success after donning the No.9 shirt at Chelsea, leading to talk of a “curse” surrounding this iconic number.
It even led to situations where they have the number to a defender (Khalid Boulahrouz) or a midfielder (Steve Sidwell). But the jinx remained, and not a lot of forwards have been able to break the Chelsea number 9 curse. With Liam Dealp joining Chelsea recently and deciding to wear number 9, we decided that now would be best to remember the players that came before him and failed as number 9s at Stamford Bridge.
Mateja Kezman
Mateja Kezman arrived at Chelsea in 2004 as a prolific goalscorer. At PSV Eindhoven, he’d smashed 105 goals in 122 appearances, dominating the Dutch league. His knack for finding the net suggested a bright future in the Premier League. Yet, Stamford Bridge told a different story.
Kezman’s lone season at Chelsea was dismal. He struggled with the pace and physicality, managing only seven goals in 41 appearances. While one of those goals came in the League Cup final victory over Liverpool, his Premier League return was a mere four goals. After just one season, he was moved on to Atlético Madrid, never again reaching the prolific heights he had in the Netherlands. The Serbian’s time in blue ended swiftly, another victim of the number 9’s strange hex.
Fernando Torres
Before joining Chelsea, Fernando Torres was a household name in English football. At Liverpool, he terrorised defences, scoring 65 goals in 102 appearances. His flair and finishing made him a standout talent. In January 2011, Chelsea splashed out £50 million, a British record at the time, to bring him to west London. But the move turned sour quickly.
In his debut season, Torres netted just one goal in 18 appearances. Over the next few years, he added a few more. But his total of 20 goals in 110 appearances paled in comparison to his Anfield heroics.
While he did collect Champions League, Europa League, and FA Cup honours, famously scoring a crucial semi-final goal against Barcelona, his overall goal record was a deep disappointment. The number 9 shirt seemed to sap his confidence, leaving fans baffled and frustrated.
Gonzalo Higuain
Gonzalo Higuain joined Chelsea on loan in 2019, carrying a stellar record from Italy. At Napoli, he bagged 91 goals in 146 appearances, and at Juventus, he added 55 in 105. His pedigree promised goals aplenty. But the Chelsea number 9 curse struck again.
He started brightly with a brace against Huddersfield, but his form quickly faded. He looked off the pace in English football and managed only five goals in 18 appearances. His lack of impact left Chelsea fans cold. He departed at season’s end with his reputation dented by the shirt’s lingering jinx. The club opted against making his deal permanent, and he continued his career in Major League Soccer.
Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku’s Chelsea tale spans two spells, both tinged with disappointment. Signed as a teenager in 2011, he barely featured before loans to West Brom (17 goals in 35 appearances) and Everton (53 goals in 110 appearances) showcased his potential. A permanent move to Everton followed.
However, in 2021, after being crowned top scorer in Italy and winning the title with Inter Milan, he returned to Chelsea as a proven striker. Chelsea paid a club-record £97.5 million to bring him back in 2021, believing he was the final piece of their puzzle.
His second stint, however, echoed the first. He scored on his debut and looked set to deliver. But his form soon collapsed amidst a controversial interview where he expressed his unhappiness. Wearing the number 9, Lukaku scored just eight goals in 26 appearances before being loaned back to Inter Milan. The shirt, it seemed, remained a hurdle he couldn’t clear.
