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On Tuesday, Chelsea published a heavily revitalised list of who will be wearing what number for the 2023/24 season.
Given the huge turnover in players – six signed, 13 sold or released at the time of writing – it was always expected that there would be changes, but there a few ones that catch the eye.
Notably, the No.22 has been left vacant despite the fact that Hakim Ziyech, who has worn that shirt since signing for the Blues in 2020, is still contracted to the club.
Callum Hudson-Odoi has not been given a number either, with the No.20 he previously wore now taken by new signing Andrey Santos.
Finally, outcast Romelu Lukaku has not reclaimed his No.9 after returning from his loan at Inter Milan, nor have any of the new forwards at Stamford Bridge.
Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku have opted for 15 and 18 respectively, while Armando Broja has switched to 19.
Chelsea’s No.9 shirt has been ‘cursed’ with numerous, high-profile flops wearing it over the years, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Lukaku, Gonzalo Higuain, Alvaro Morata, Radamel Falcao and Fernando Torres.
The trio’s absence on the list confirms that they have no place in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad and should be heading out of the exit door before deadline day – providing they can find a club to go to.
Hudson-Odoi has been heavily linked with Fulham but progress on that deal appears to have stalled, while Ziyech has seen both a January deadline day move to PSG and a recent transfer to the Saudi Pro League both collapse at the eleventh hour.
Lukaku meanwhile is pushing for a controversial move to Juventus but the Serie A giants are struggling to reach an agreement with Chelsea on a fee, with Pochettino not interested in a swap deal involving Dusan Vlahovic.
Other notable squad number changes for the Blues include Marc Cucurella moving to No.3, Benoit Badiashile 5, Raheem Sterling 7, Enzo Fernandez 8, Mykhailo Mudryk 10 and Noni Madueke 11.
As for the new signings, Axel Disasi will wear No.2, Lesley Ugochukwu 16, Malo Gusto 27 and Robert Sanchez 31, while returning loanee Levi Colwill has taken perhaps Chelsea’s most famous shirt, the No.26 made famous by their legendary captain John Terry.
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