The great heritage of Chelsea Football Club’s renowned strikers, who once frightened defenders around Europe, cannot be overlooked. The Blues have always expected their attackers to be the best, from Didier Drogba’s famous Champions League-winning goal in 2012 to Gianfranco Zola’s skill (despite never wearing the number).

Yet, lurking in the shadows of Stamford Bridge is a peculiar tale,  the supposed “curse” of the No. 9 jersey. Over the past two decades, several high-profile  talented strikers have worn it, but most have failed to live up to expectations (FLOP). Now, in 2025, the latest to inherit this number is Liam Delap a young English forward with a powerful frame, raw potential, and a daunting challenge ahead of him.

The Origins of the Chelsea No. 9 Curse

The superstition around Chelsea’s No. 9 shirt isn’t just fan-made drama it’s  deep  rooted in history. After Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s successful stint in the early 2000s, the jersey became somewhat of  charmed and a poisoned chalice. Big money signings and promising talents alike faltered while wearing it. Names like Mateja Kežman, Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Álvaro Morata, and more recently Romelu Lukaku all struggled to consistently deliver in blue shirt.

• Fernando Torres, signed for £50 million in 2011, One of the EPL record signing at as that time, was expected to be a goal machine. Instead, he produced flashes of brilliance but never hit the heights he reached at Liverpool with Chelsea making fans to tag him as on of the biggest flop wearing the number 9 shirt for the blues.

• Álvaro Morata, who arrived from Real Madrid, had a bright start but quickly faded, haunted by missed chances and lack of confidence issues.

• Gonzalo Higuaín, brought in on loan in 2019, looked like a shadow of the prolific Serie A striker fans once knew.

• Romelu Lukaku, in his second Chelsea stint, promised a revival but left under a cloud of controversy after an infamous interview and underwhelming displays.

Each failure added fuel to the “curse” narrative, turning the No. 9 shirt into a burden rather than a badge of honor to the fans.

Why Fans Fear for Delap

Liam Delap arrives at Chelsea with massive expectations. Still just 22, the striker has shown glimpses of potential since breaking through Manchester City’s youth ranks. Known for his physicality, strong finishing, and aerial ability, Delap seemed destined for a Premier League future. However, moving to Chelsea and immediately taking the cursed jersey is a different challenge altogether.

Supporters fear history might repeat itself. The No. 9 shirt has become symbolic of pressure and disappointment, and for a player still developing his identity, the weight of expectation could be heavy. If he starts slow, headlines will write themselves: “Another victim of the curse.”

Why Delap Might Be Different

Yet, while the curse looms large, there are reasons to believe Delap could rewrite the story.

1. Youth and Development
   Unlike many past Chelsea No. 9s, Delap is not arriving as a finished product with a world-class price tag. The likes of Torres, Morata, and Lukaku were bought at the peaks of their careers with enormous transfer fees. Delap is still learning, and this gives him room to grow without the unrealistic burden of being the final piece in the puzzle.

2. Playing Style
   Delap is a modern striker built for intensity. His physicality, directness, and work rate could suit Chelsea’s evolving system under Enzo Maresca. Unlike more technical forwards who often struggled to adapt, Delap thrives in chaos pressing defenders, winning duels, and poaching goals. That grit might win over Stamford Bridge quickly.

3. Mentality
   What doomed past strikers was often confidence. Delap, however, has shown resilience throughout loan spells and early struggles. If he can maintain a strong mentality, he could be the one to embrace the jersey rather than be haunted by it.

4. The Environment
   Chelsea’s squad is in transition, packed with young talent. Unlike the pressure-cooker eras of the past, Delap is joining a team that is itself developing. This shared journey could shield him from individual blame and allow him to flourish.

What Fans Should Expect

Chelsea supporters should approach Delap’s debut season with cautious optimism. He may not immediately score 25 goals, but that should not define his contribution. Instead, fans should look for:

• Progress, not perfection: If Delap hits double figures in goals, that’s a strong start.

• Physical presence: Expect him to bully defenders, hold up play, and link with Chelsea’s wide attackers.

• Work rate: His pressing and defensive contributions will likely be as important as his finishing.

• Moments of growth: Even if inconsistent, flashes of brilliance will show the direction he’s heading.

Most importantly, patience will be key. The curse of the No. 9 has been fed by instant judgments and heavy price tags. Delap needs space to grow into the role rather than being crushed under its history.

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Could the Curse Finally Be Broken?

Football curses exist only because narratives keep them alive. The truth is, every striker’s failure came from unique circumstances injuries, confidence issues, tactical mismatches. The curse is less supernatural and more psychological. If Chelsea fans and management learn from the past and give Delap the support he needs, he could turn the number into a symbol of revival rather than failure.

Breaking the curse won’t just depend on Delap’s goals, but on whether Chelsea as a whole builds an environment for him to succeed. Should he find consistency, this young striker could finally banish the ghosts of Lukaku, Morata, and Torres and restore pride to the No. 9 shirt.

 In short, Liam Delap’s Chelsea journey will be as much about breaking psychological barriers as scoring goals. He represents both hope and risk. If he thrives, he may go down as the man who broke one of football’s strangest “curses.” If not, the legend of the No. 9 curse will grow stronger. For now, all eyes are on Stamford Bridge.