Chelsea confirm Liam Delap shirt number with controversial choice after £30m transfer

Mateja Kezman, Khalid Boulahrouz, Steve Sidwell, Franco Di Santos, Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain, Romelu Lukaku, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. These are 10 of the last 12 players to wear the famous No.9 shirt at Chelsea.

Joining that list, it has now been confirmed, is new signing Liam Delap. The 22-year-old, Chelsea announced on Thursday morning, will don the top in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

Only Tammy Abraham and Hernan Crespo have managed to come away from wearing the No.9 at Chelsea with any real credit in the past 20 years. Before that Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and club legend Gianluca Vialli did a fine job.

The most famous No.9 is undoubtedly Peter Osgood. In recent times, many have tried but few have been able to do it justice. Delap, after moving for £30million from Ipswich Town, is the latest in a long line to try and bury suggestions of a curse.

He scored 12 Premier League goals last season, almost 40% of Ipswich’s total tally on the way to a limp relegation under Kieran McKenna. Signed for £15million in 2023 from Manchester City, where Delap played under Enzo Maresca in the academy, Chelsea are hoping that Delap will provide much needed firepower up front.

In Nicolas Jackson, Chelsea only managed 10 domestic goals from their striker last term. Albeit Jackson did miss two months with injury and the final two matches through suspension, many have grown frustrated with his lack of cutting edge.

Delap promises to bring something different to Stamford Bridge. Although he too thrives in transition and when running from the left channel towards goal with pace and purpose, Delap’s physical profile is a new characteristic.

Maresca will aim to use the newfound depth to try and compete across four competitions, including the step up to the Champions League. After laying the groundwork of a deal with Delap from as far back as January, Chelsea have their man.

Aided by a relegation clause which set his price at £30million, as opposed to the £50million being quoted earlier in the season, Chelsea won Delap’s preference despite competition from Manchester United, Newcastle United, and others. Speaking upon his signing, Delap said: “I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach.”

He continued: “It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.”

Delap also added: “I wanted to come here to win trophies. When I spoke to the club, everyone wanted to get back to the very top, and they have the quality and the players to do that. The hunger and desire to keep adding trophies, to take the club back to where it belongs, that is the main objective.”

This is the first time Delap will have worn the No.9 in his senior career having taken No.19 at Ipswich. He was Hull City’s No.20 and the No.7 at Preston North End. Delap wore No.17 at Stoke City and regularly sported No.48 with Maresca in the Manchester City development squad and Under-18s.

His City first team debut came in the No.48 as well. Delap did wear the No.9 at youth level in the Under-18s and previously at Derby County. For England, where he has played throughout the age groups from Under-16s to Under-21s, he has been the No.9 at Under-18 and Under-21 level as well as No.19 in between.

Jadon Sancho was Chelsea’s No.19 last season but has since failed to reach an agreement over turning his stay permanent,football.london understands. That did open up the chance for Delap to keep his old number but instead he has taken on the No.9.

“Growing up watching this club, I understand the stature of it and how incredible it has been over the years,” he said about Chelsea. He will now play a big role in the future.