[FULL LIST] Chelsea players who have wore number 9 shirt
Chelsea’s No. 9 shirt has been worn by a long list of talented and high-profile forwards over the years, with several players struggling to meet the expectations attached to the famous number.
Joao Pedro is now the latest player to take on the shirt after Chelsea confirmed their squad numbers for the 2026/27 season. The Brazilian forward has been handed the No. 9 following an outstanding first campaign at Stamford Bridge, in which he was named the club’s Player of the Year.
Here is a look at some of the notable players who have worn Chelsea’s No. 9 shirt:
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
The Dutch striker wore the No. 9 shirt during his successful spell at Chelsea and became one of the club’s most prolific goalscorers. His goalscoring record made him one of the most popular forwards of his generation at Stamford Bridge.
- Mateja Kežman
The Serbian striker took over the No. 9 shirt after joining Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven in 2004. Despite arriving with a strong reputation from the Netherlands, he struggled to reproduce his best form in England.
- Hernán Crespo
The Argentine forward also wore the No. 9 shirt during his Chelsea career. Crespo scored important goals for the Blues but spent part of his time at the club on loan at AC Milan and Inter Milan.
- Khalid Boulahrouz
Although primarily a defender, Boulahrouz surprisingly wore the No. 9 shirt during the 2006/07 season after joining Chelsea from Hamburg.
- Franco Di Santo
The Argentine forward wore No. 9 during his time at Chelsea after joining the club as a highly rated youngster. He made 16 Premier League appearances for the Blues but scored only once.
- Fernando Torres
One of the most expensive signings in Chelsea’s history, Torres inherited the No. 9 shirt and carried enormous expectations. He eventually produced memorable moments, including his Champions League semi-final goal against Barcelona and the winner in the 2013 Europa League final.
- Radamel Falcao
The Colombian striker wore No. 9 during his loan spell at Chelsea in the 2015/16 season. His campaign was disrupted by injury, and he managed only one Premier League goal.
- Álvaro Morata
Morata was given the No. 9 shirt after joining Chelsea from Real Madrid in 2017. He made a bright start but his form later declined, and he eventually left the club.
- Gonzalo Higuaín
The Argentine striker wore No. 9 after arriving on loan from Juventus in January 2019. He scored five Premier League goals during his short spell at Stamford Bridge.
- Tammy Abraham
Abraham inherited the No. 9 shirt for the 2019/20 season and enjoyed a strong campaign, scoring 18 goals in all competitions.
- Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian returned to Chelsea in 2021 for a second spell and took the No. 9 shirt. Despite scoring 15 goals in all competitions during the 2021/22 season, his return ultimately failed to reach the expectations surrounding the club-record transfer.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang wore No. 9 after joining Chelsea from Barcelona in 2022. He scored eight goals in 21 Premier League appearances during his only season at the club.
- Nicolas Jackson
Jackson wore the No. 15 shirt initially before taking over No. 9 in the 2024/25 season. The Senegal-born forward showed flashes of quality but also faced criticism over his finishing and consistency.
- Liam Delap
Delap was given the No. 9 shirt after joining Chelsea from Ipswich Town ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. However, following a difficult first season, the shirt has now been handed to Joao Pedro.
15. Joao Pedro
The Brazilian forward enjoyed an excellent debut season, scoring 20 goals and becoming Chelsea’s leading scorer in the 2025/26 campaign. He was also voted the club’s Player of the Season by supporters.
Chelsea have now rewarded his performances by giving him the No. 9 shirt for the 2026/27 season.
The move marks a significant change from his original Chelsea number. When he joined the club from Brighton in 2025, Joao Pedro was handed the No. 20 shirt.