Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Liam Delap has lost the number nine shirt at Chelsea, 14 months after his £30 million transfer from Ipswich Town.
The 23-year-old is one of several players now training separately to the main squad ahead of the Blues’ 2026-27 Premier League opening fixture against neighbours Fulham on Monday.
According to BBC Sport, Chelsea are seeking £50 million for Delap, who only managed to score one goal in 28 Premier League appearances during his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge. The former England Under-21 international netted two goals in 41 matches across all competitions.
Delap’s underwhelming season appears to have cost him not only his shirt number but his Chelsea career, as new head coach Xabi Alonso revamps the squad.
Forward Nicolas Jackson and winger Mykhailo Mudryk are also in the same training group as Delap at Cobham, although club sources insist it’s different from the “bomb squad” approach taken last season when the likes of Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi were frozen out.
Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho
Joao Pedro Handed No. 9, Delap Also Gets New Number
REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Chelsea have confirmed that the club’s number nine shirt has been handed to Brazil international Joao Pedro, who scored 20 goals in 50 games for the Blues last term.
Delap, meanwhile, has been forced to settle for the number 12 jersey, previously worn by back-up goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who has moved to French side Strasbourg on loan.
The number 12 shirt has been worn by 10 Chelsea players during the Premier League era. The most notable former No. 12 is John Obi Mikel, who won two Premier League titles in 2010 and 2015. Defender Michael Duberry also wore 12 during the mid-to-late-1990s.
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Chelsea's No. 12s (Since 1992)
Filip Jorgensen
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Victor Moses
John Obi Mikel
Carlton Cole
Mario Stanic
Bjarne Goldbaek
Michael Duberry
Craig Burley
Steve Clarke
Stats via Transfermarkt
Chelsea Announce Further 2026-27 Squad Number Changes
Chelsea's Danny Welbeck via REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
In a statement, Chelsea confirmed the following squad number changes for the new season: “Striker Joao Pedro has switched to the No.9 shirt, having been named the club’s Player of the Year last season.
“Wesley Fofana has also changed number, with the Frenchman now set to wear the No.3 shirt for the upcoming campaign.
“Summer signing Morgan Rogers was announced as the Blues' new No.17 following his arrival back in July.
“Marco Palestra, Valentin Barco and Maxence Lacroix have been handed two, four and five shirts respectively.
“Jordan Henderson is to take the No.14 shirt, Danny Welbeck will wear No.18, Emmanuel Emegha the No.22, Geovany Quenda the No.23 and Pep Chavarria the No.29.”
Cole Palmer will continue to wear the No. 10 shirt at Stamford Bridge, while Robert Sanchez continues as Chelsea’s No. 1 goalkeeper.