Chelsea have secured their second signing of the summer transfer window, with Liam Delap completing a £30million move from Ipswich Town.
The 22-year-old striker follows Dario Essugo through the doors at Stamford Bridge as new manager Enzo Maresca continues to shape his squad.
The two clubs reached an agreement last week, with Delap undergoing his medical before signing a long-term contract on Wednesday.
The forward will inherit the famous No9 shirt as Chelsea prepare for their return to Champions League football next season.
Chelsea beat a host of Prem clubs to land Liam Delap in £30m dealGetty
Delap's arrival marks the latest chapter in the storied history of Chelsea's No9 jersey, which has gained a reputation for bringing misfortune to its wearers in recent years.
The striker's decision to take Chelsea's No9 shirt has sparked widespread concern among supporters on social media platforms.
The striker's choice of squad number has prompted immediate reactions from fans worried about the infamous curse associated with the digit at Stamford Bridge.
"Delap picked number 9 after all this?" questioned one supporter online, whilst another asked: "Is this Liam Delap's first mistake at Chelsea? Is he the man to finally end the Chelsea No. 9 curse?"
JUST IN: Alexander Zverev gives unusual excuse for French Open loss to Novak Djokovic
The fanbase appears divided over Delap's bold choice. Some supporters are backing the striker's confidence, with one commenting: "All I see is a striker with elite mentality."
Others remain sceptical about his prospects. "Liam Delap will not break the number 9 curse at Chelsea," predicted one pessimistic fan.
The uncertainty was captured by another supporter who wrote: "Another victim of the Chelsea number 9 curse? Or will Delap be the one to turn it around? Place your bets!" READ MORE: Eberechi Eze breaks silence on Crystal Palace's potential European disqualification: 'Huge shame'
Romelu Lukaku struggled during his time as Chelsea No9
PA
Despite the concerns, some offered cautious support. "It's never easy for a Chelsea number 9 but we wish Liam Delap all the best," one fan stated.
The shirt's troubled reputation has grown over successive seasons, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang becoming the most recent victim of the "cursed" strip.
The former Arsenal captain wore the jersey for a brief period in 2023, continuing a pattern of disappointment for Chelsea's No9s.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Before Aubameyang, the shirt belonged to Romelu Lukaku, whose second spell at Stamford Bridge turned into one of the club's most expensive failures.
The Belgian striker had rejoined Chelsea in a £98million deal from Inter Milan in 2021, raising expectations that he would finally provide the clinical finishing the team needed.
However, Lukaku's return quickly descended into disaster. After an encouraging start, he fell out of favour and spent consecutive seasons on loan at Inter Milan and Roma.
Delap now faces the challenge of breaking this unfortunate pattern as the Blues prepare for their Champions League return.
Liam Delap had an impressive season at Ipswich with 12 goals
ReutersThe young striker's task is made more daunting by the high-profile failures of his predecessors in the jersey.
His £30m price tag, while substantial, pales in comparison to the enormous sums wasted on previous No9s.
Whether Delap can succeed where Lukaku and Aubameyang failed will be one of the intriguing storylines of Chelsea's upcoming campaign.
Most Read
