The Last 10 Chelsea No. 9s: Goals, Assists and Appearances

Chelsea’s No. 9 shirt has become one of the most talked-about numbers in Premier League football. From prolific strikers to expensive signings who struggled to deliver, the iconic shirt has carried enormous expectations at Stamford Bridge. But how have the last 10 players to wear Chelsea’s No. 9 actually performed?

For this feature, the key statistics are Chelsea appearances, goals and assists (G/A). One important distinction: the club has had several No. 9s over the years, and the order depends on whether we count only permanent senior players, loan spells or every official shirt-number change. The figures also vary between statistical databases, particularly for assists.

The last 10 Chelsea No. 9s ranked by their Chelsea careers

The following list runs from the most recent shirt holders backwards. The appearance and goal figures are based on their Chelsea spells in competitive matches; totals can differ across databases depending on competitions counted.

1. João Pedro — 2026–present

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Appearances: 5  Goals: 5 Assists: 3

The Brazilian took the shirt for the 2026/27 season after an outstanding debut campaign in which he was named Chelsea’s Player of the Season. His 2025/26 contribution was 20 goals and six assists in 50 appearances across competitions, making him one of the club’s most productive recent forwards.

2. Liam Delap — 2025/26

João Pedro Opens Up on Chelsea’s No. 9 Role

Appearances: 47 · Goals: 3  Assists: 4

Signed from Ipswich Town, Delap inherited the famous number in June 2025. The powerful English striker brought physicality and pressing, but struggled to score consistently in his first Chelsea campaign. He made his switch to Notttingham Forest after just one season.

3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — 2022/23

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Appearances: 21 · Goals: 3 Assists: 1

The former Arsenal captain arrived from Barcelona hoping to revive Chelsea’s attack. Instead, he endured a difficult season, scoring only three times before leaving Stamford Bridge. He endured a turbulent season that saw chelsea managed by four different managers: Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor, and Frank Lampard

4. Romelu Lukaku — 2021/22

Appearances: 44 · Goals: 15 Assists: 0

Chelsea brought Lukaku back from Inter Milan for a club-record fee at the time. He scored important goals, including in the Champions League, but struggled for consistency and returned to Inter on loan the following season.

5. Tammy Abraham — 2019–21

Appearances: 82 · Goals: 30 Assists: 4

Abraham was among the more successful modern holders of the shirt. His goals helped Chelsea secure Champions League qualification in 2019/20, although he later lost his regular starting place.

6. Gonzalo Higuaín — 2019

Appearances: 19 · Goals: 5  Assists: 0

The Argentine joined on loan from Juventus. He scored five goals, but his short spell never developed into a long-term solution for Chelsea’s centre-forward position.

7. Álvaro Morata — 2017–19

Appearances: 72 · Goals: 24  Assists: 6

Morata made a promising start after joining from Real Madrid, but injuries and inconsistent finishing affected his Chelsea career. He eventually left on loan for Atlético Madrid.

8. Radamel Falcao — 2015/16

Appearances: 12 · Goals: 1

After struggling at Manchester United, Falcao joined Chelsea on loan. Injuries limited his opportunities, and he managed just one goal during another disappointing Premier League spell.

9. Fernando Torres — 2011–15

Appearances: 172 · Goals: 45 Assists: 35

Torres struggled to reproduce his Liverpool form consistently, but still delivered memorable moments, including his famous Barcelona goal in the 2012 Champions League semifinal. He won the Champions League and Europa League with Chelsea.

10. Franco Di Santo — 2008–10

Appearances: 16 · Goals: 0

The young Argentine forward was viewed as a prospect but struggled to break into Chelsea’s first team. He left without scoring a senior competitive goal for the club.

Is Chelsea’s No. 9 shirt cursed?

Chelsea’s recent history explains why fans talk about a No. 9 curse. Torres won major trophies, Abraham delivered 30 goals, and Lukaku scored 15 in one season, but several other players struggled to justify expectations. João Pedro now has the opportunity to change that narrative.

For Chelsea supporters, the question is simple: can João Pedro become the club’s next truly successful No. 9?