- Chelsea met Ipswich’s cut-price launch clause for the younger striker final week
- The 22-year-old netted 12 targets in his first full season within the Premier League
- He’ll put on the jersey that has proved burdensome for succession of strikers
Liam Delap will put on the No 9 shirt at Chelsea after finishing a £30million switch to Stamford Bridge from Ipswich.
The 22-year-old, who grew to become Enzo Maresca’s second signing of the summer season after Dario Essugo, is the newest occupant of he well-known jersey because the Blues put together for all times again within the Champions League subsequent season.
The 2 golf equipment got here to an settlement over Delap final week, and after present process a medical put pen to paper on a long-term contract in west London on Wednesday.
The Blues have now confirmed that Delap will tackle the No 9 jersey, which has proved slightly unfortunate for a succession of Chelsea strikers over time. The final participant to put on the ‘cursed’ strip was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who inherited it for a brief interval in 2023.
It had been the jersey of Romelu Lukaku, who rejoined the facet in a £98m deal in 2021.
The Belgian moved to Naples final summer season for £30million, three years after becoming a member of the Blues from Inter Milan. Nonetheless, his return to Stamford Bridge proved to be disastrous, as after a optimistic begin, he fell out of favour, spending successive seasons on mortgage at Inter and Roma again in Italy.
Chelsea accomplished the signing of Ipswich City striker Liam Delap in a £30milllion deal this week
Delap impressed for Ipswich in what was a poor season for the membership, scoring 12 league targets
Romelu Lukaku was handed the No 9 jersey when he rejoined the Blues in 2021 for £98m
Lukaku secured a everlasting exit in August having been pressured to coach with Chelsea’s bomb squad throughout pre-season, an expertise that he had additionally undergone throughout the earlier summer season.
At most golf equipment, being given the No 9 is a supply of nice pleasure and duty however at Chelsea it has gave the impression to be a little bit of a burden.
Academy product Tammy Abraham had the honour of carrying the No 9 on his again for a brief interval nevertheless it the highest-profile occupant earlier than him was Gonzalo Higuain, who joined the membership as one of the vital revered strikers in Europe and left along with his fame in tatters.
Fears over the Argentine’s health and suitability to the tempo of the Premier League proved well-founded after following his Napoli supervisor Mauricio Sarri to west London. Higuain’s return of 5 targets in 18 video games paints a greater image than his six-month spell on the Bridge really was, regardless of an encouraging brace in opposition to Huddersfield in simply his third recreation.
Earlier than him, Alvaro Morata – Chelsea’s thirteenth No 9 within the Premier League – was the subsequent unlucky wearer of the strip.
Throughout his first season, Morata netted simply 15 targets throughout all competitions. Whereas his second season on the membership rating him rating simply 9 instances earlier than returning to Madrid after 12 years, becoming a member of the membership on an 18-month mortgage deal.
Having struggled to show his price at Chelsea, Morata signed completely for Atletico in July 2020.
Fernando Torres additionally needed to take care of a then British-record £50m price when he turned out for the Blues in 2011 following his gorgeous seize from Liverpool.
Alvaro Morata – Chelsea’s thirteenth No 9 within the Premier League – was the subsequent unlucky wearer of the strip after Gonzalo Higuain
Fernando Torres endured a run of 903 minutes earlier than netting his first purpose for Chelsea after his £50m switch
In reality, although, when folks focus on the curse of Chelsea’s No 9, Torres’ title is usually the primary port of name. He scored his first purpose in April, ending a run of 903 minutes with out scoring for his new membership and it did not get any higher from there.
Within the 2011-12 season, he went on a 24-game barren run, finally ending the season with six league targets. He obtained eight the 12 months after, and 5 the 12 months after that. Certainly, the injury was carried out, and he moved onto AC Milan on a two-year mortgage, along with his profession in steep decline.
