Chelsea have officially confirmed their squad numbers for the 2026/27 season, with several notable changes reflecting the club’s reshaped squad under new head coach Xabi Alonso.
The standout switch sees João Pedro inherit the famous No. 9 shirt, rewarding the Brazilian after an outstanding campaign that saw him named Chelsea’s Player of the Year. The move also signals the club’s faith in him as their leading striker heading into the new season.
Chelsea’s major shirt number changes
Several summer arrivals have also received their official squad numbers.
João Pedro – No. 9
Liam Delap – No. 12
Wesley Fofana – No. 3
Valentín Barco – No. 4
Morgan Rogers – No. 17
Jordan Henderson – No. 14
Danny Welbeck – No. 18
Emmanuel Emegha – No. 22
Geovany Quenda – No. 23
João Pedro embraces Chelsea’s famous No. 9
The biggest talking point is undoubtedly João Pedro’s decision to wear Chelsea’s No. 9 shirt—a number that has become synonymous with high expectations at Stamford Bridge.
Several renowned strikers, including Fernando Torres, Romelu Lukaku and Gonzalo Higuaín, struggled to live up to the shirt’s reputation. Chelsea supporters will hope João Pedro can finally end the long-running “No. 9 curse” after earning the switch through his impressive performances last season.
Chelsea’s updated squad numbers offer an early glimpse into Alonso’s plans for the season. João Pedro’s promotion to No. 9 underlines his importance in attack, while new arrivals like Morgan Rogers, Jordan Henderson and Valentín Barco are immediately integrated into the first-team setup.