Chelsea have officially announced new shirt numbers for England international Cole Palmer and new signing Liam Delap ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Palmer, who has worn the number 20 shirt since joining Chelsea from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, will now don the prestigious number 10 jersey. The switch represents a significant promotion for the midfielder, who has become a key figure at Stamford Bridge since his arrival.

Meanwhile, new signing Liam Delap has been handed the number 9 shirt following his £30 million transfer to Chelsea. The 22-year-old striker joins after his release clause at Ipswich Town was triggered, offering him an immediate return to the Premier League after suffering relegation with Ipswich in the 2024-25 season.

The 'Cursed' Number 9 Shirt

Delap's assignment of the number 9 jersey comes with its own unique pressure, as the shirt has gained a reputation for being somewhat 'cursed' at Chelsea. Previous wearers including Romelu Lukaku, Alvaro Morata, and Fernando Torres all struggled to live up to expectations despite arriving with high price tags and impressive reputations.

The young striker will be hoping to break this unfortunate tradition as he begins his career at Stamford Bridge under new management.

In their official statement, Chelsea noted: "Supporters are reminded that the full list of squad numbers for the 2025/26 season will be finalised once the summer transfer window has shut," suggesting there may be more changes to come as the club continues its transfer activities.

The announcement comes during what appears to be an active transfer window for Chelsea, with reports of interest in West Ham's Mohammed Kudus following the return of Jadon Sancho to Manchester United after his loan spell.

Chelsea fans will be eager to see how both Palmer and Delap perform in their new numbers when the 2025/26 Premier League season kicks off later this year.