Jersey numbers are an important part of football; icons have blazed their trails all while adorned by a familiar number on their back. While everyone remembers R9 or the trail of 10s throughout history, there are some numbers that are more interesting, particularly once we enter the 20s. For some clubs steeped in history, they won’t have had just one notable player wearing a particular number, but even then, once you get beyond the lower numbers, it can get juicy. That is why in this, we’ll be looking at the best Chelsea players to ever wear the number 29 jersey.
Read More:Best Chelsea Players to Wear the Number 5 Jersey Ever
Best Chelsea Players to Wear the Number 29 Jersey – All Time
Samuel Eto’o
While his best days may have been past him by the time he made the move to England, there’s no denying that Samuel Eto’o is one of the best to ever wear the number 29 for this club. Even though he was arguably past it, he managed to nab 12 goals in all competitions.
Read More:Top 10 Most Expensive Chelsea Goalkeepers of All Time
That alone is obviously not good enough to get him a mention here. What solidifies his spot on the list is the Cameroonian’s legendary spells with Barcelona, Mallorca, and Inter where he proved himself as one of the best strikers of his generation.
Demba Ba
Another attacker on here largely for his contributions elsewhere. Demba Ba’s return at Chelsea of just 14 goals in 51 games was subpar but he did net some very important ones, like the infamous Steven Gerrard slip that cost them the title. That certainly isn’t why the Senegal man is on here though.
Read More:Best Chelsea Players to Wear the Number 4 Jersey Ever
The striker had prolific spells at a number of clubs through the 00s and 10s, including Hoffenheim, West Ham, Newcastle, Besiktas, and Shanghai Shenhua. While it’s a shame he never got to show off his best in blue, he will at least always be remembered for sticking it to the Reds.
Fikayo Tomori
Fikayo Tomori never really got going at the Blues despite breaking into the first team in 2019/20. This was despite successful Championship loans with Derby County and Hull City proving he was capable of handling English football. With only 27 senior Chelsea appearances to his name, you’d be correct to wonder why he’s even on here.
Despite not succeeding at his boyhood club, the Englishman has gone on to carve out an impressive career for himself at AC Milan, with almost 200 appearances across all competitions for the iconic Italian outfit and a Serie A win, he’s more than earned a place on this list.
Kai Havertz
What an interesting legacy Kai Havertz left at this team. Sold after an awful season leading the line to rivals Arsenal, never seemed to find a natural fit with the squad, and only scored 32 goals in 139 appearances. Havertz was a hard-worker but ultimately left without much sadness from the fanbase.
Read More:Best Chelsea Players to Wear the Number 3 Jersey Ever
What he will always have, though, is a Champions League-winning goal. Yes, one of those measly 32 was the winner in the final against Manchester City when the Blues managed to pull off a miracle run for the second time and lift Europe’s greatest prize.
Wesley Fofana
While things haven’t gone perfectly for the former Leicester City man due to injuries, there is absolutely no doubting his talents. Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill formed an excellent partnership for months under Enzo Maresca with the duo’s combination of passing, ball-carrying, and defensive chemistry having the team as high as second when Fofana eventually went down injured.
When healthy, the Frenchman is one of the best defenders in Europe’s top five leagues at progressive carries. His athleticism and ball-carrying are vital skills for a modern defender and if he can stay healthy, he will undoubtedly become an elite centre-back at Chelsea.