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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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