Liam Delap unveiled to wear Chelsea's cursed Number 9

Liam Delap will hope to battle the demons plaguing the number 9 shirt as he is unveiled at Chelsea.

Chelsea FC officially unveiled their newest signing, 22-year-old striker Liam Delap.

The new sparking a wave of excitement among fans as Delap takes the new No.9 jersey.

Delap's arrival comes after a high-profile transfer from Ipswich Town, where Chelsea activated a £30m release clause following Ipswich's relegation from the Premier League.

Liam Delap joins Chelsea with an impressive record, having scored 12 Premier League goals in his debut top-flight season with Ipswich.

Chelsea number 9 curse

However, the unveiling of Delap as Chelsea's new No.9 has reignited discussions about the infamous "curse" associated with the number at the club.

For years, players who have worn the number nine playing for Chelsea have failed to live up to expectations and underperformed.

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Hence, the idea of the number nine being cursed has taken root among fans and pundits alike.

Mateja Kezman managed just 7 goals in 41 appearances before his career unraveled.

Hernan Crespo, once the world’s most expensive footballer, scored 20 goals in 73 games.

Fernando Torres, signed for a then-British record £50m in 2011, scored a paltry 20 goals in 110 Premier League games.

Radamel Falcao, on loan from Monaco in 2015, managed just 1 goal in 12 appearances.

Álvaro Morata started brightly in 2017 but ended with 24 goals in 72 games before leaving for Atlético Madrid.

Others that struggled with the number 9 are Gonzalo Higuaín, Tammy Abraham, Romelu Lukaku on his return and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.