Liam Delap Breaks Silence on Chelsea's Infamous No.9 'Curse' That Haunted Torres and Lukaku

Liam Delap reveals that his transfer to Chelsea came down to trusting his instincts, boldly stating that the club's infamous No.9 jersey jinx "holds no significance" for him.
Delap emerged as one of the summer's most sought-after talents following the conclusion of the 2024–25 Premier League campaign, having netted 12 times for Ipswich Town while being available for a modest £30 million ($40.5 million) thanks to a relegation release clause.
Manchester United seemed to be Chelsea's primary competition for his signature, with Everton, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest also showing strong interest in the robust 22-year-old striker.
Chelsea secured his services on June 4, allowing Delap to be registered during FIFA's early transfer window and qualify for participation in the FIFA Club World Cup.
"You can never be certain if you're making the correct choice, but you must trust your instincts and hope everything falls into place. It's important to take your time. I spent several days consulting with people before making my decision," he reflected, now nearly three weeks into his Chelsea journey.
Delap has made a positive impression across two Club World Cup matches and is expected to retain his starting position for the third and final group fixture against ES Tunis, with Nicolas Jackson serving a suspension. However, participating in this tournament meant sacrificing his chance to represent England at the Under-21 European Championship.

"I had been anticipating the Euros throughout the entire season and was genuinely excited about that opportunity. However, after joining here, they needed me to participate [in the Club World Cup]. I'm equally eager to be part of this," he stated.
"It's essential for me to build relationships with everyone. Being around the team constantly helps me integrate quickly and allows us to develop and refine strategies for the upcoming season."
Despite having played just 90 minutes so far, Delap hasn't yet fallen victim to the 'jinx' that has plagued every Chelsea No.9 since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink departed Stamford Bridge two decades ago. However, he insists that even the shadow of this superstition won't affect his performance. "That's not who I am. It's something people talk about, but it carries no weight with me."
Even modern-day icons such as Fernando Torres, Hernán Crespo, Gonzalo Higuaín, Radamel Falcao, Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have fallen prey to the shirt's supposed curse.