João Pedro has wasted no time answering questions about Chelsea’s infamous number nine shirt. The Brazilian forward scored only 31 seconds into Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Fulham, producing a delicate finish over goalkeeper Bernd Leno in a dramatic 3–2 victory at Craven Cottage.
The goal came just days after João Pedro took over Chelsea’s No. 9 shirt and signed a new contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2034. It was also the perfect beginning to Xabi Alonso’s first competitive match as Chelsea manager.
A fast start in a famous shirt
Chelsea supporters have long viewed the No. 9 jersey with suspicion. Since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink left the club in 2004, several high-profile strikers have struggled to reproduce his consistency while wearing the shirt.
Romelu Lukaku, Álvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuaín, Radamel Falcao and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all experienced difficult spells in the number. Didier Drogba enjoyed enormous success at Chelsea but wore No. 11, while Diego Costa used No. 19 during his most productive period.
Liam Delap was the previous holder of the shirt. He scored only once in the Premier League last season and is now discussing a possible move away from Stamford Bridge, with Nottingham Forest reportedly interested.
Tammy Abraham is among the players supporters mention as a more positive example, although his time wearing the shirt did not last long enough to completely erase the superstition.
João Pedro, however, is not concerned by the history attached to the number.
“I don’t believe in the curse,” he told the Mirror. “Numbers cannot decide the pressure. I just try to do my job.”
João Pedro’s impressive Chelsea record
The forward has already given Chelsea fans plenty of reasons for optimism.
During his first full season at the club, João Pedro scored 20 goals in all competitions. That made him the first Chelsea striker to reach the mark since Diego Costa achieved it nine years earlier.
His performances earned him the club’s Player of the Season award, while Chelsea rewarded his contribution with improved financial terms and a long-term contract extension. He joined the club from Brighton last summer in a deal worth £55 million, with a further £5 million included in potential add-ons.
His immediate impact after switching from No. 20 to No. 9 has further increased expectations. Before the Fulham match, he had scored eight goals in seven pre-season games, suggesting that his confidence had carried into the new campaign.
Difficult beginnings shaped his character
João Pedro’s ability to handle pressure has been built through a challenging journey.
He was raised mainly by his mother, Flávia Junqueira, and grandmother in Ribeirão Preto, an inland city in the state of São Paulo. His father, former Botafogo player José João de Jesus, known as Chicão, was largely absent during his childhood after spending several years in prison.
Junqueira left her job and moved with her son to Rio de Janeiro when he joined Fluminense’s academy. The decision involved major personal and financial sacrifices, but she believed João Pedro had the potential to succeed.
“João had a dream, and I shared that dream with him,” she said. “That dream had no price.”
João Pedro initially played as a defensive midfielder, following a path similar to his father’s, before gradually moving into more advanced positions.
Watford move opened the door
João Pedro’s development at Fluminense attracted the attention of Watford’s South American scout, Rafa Monfort. A recommendation from Richarlison, who had previously moved from Watford to the Premier League, also helped convince him to make the switch.
The teenager had grown up watching English football and was excited by the prospect of playing in the Premier League. However, the transfer took approximately eight months to complete while he waited to satisfy the Governing Body Endorsement requirements and obtain a United Kingdom work permit.
Junqueira believes an overhead kick João Pedro scored against Cruzeiro in May 2019, when he was 17, helped persuade officials that he was an exceptional talent.
The family eventually arrived in England in December 2019. Their early adjustment was not straightforward, as Junqueira discovered that her bank cards did not work in the country. Former Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, another Brazilian, helped the family and even arranged their Christmas dinner.
A star at the Club World Cup
After Chelsea agreed a deal with Brighton, João Pedro left a training camp in Rio de Janeiro to join the squad in Miami for the FIFA Club World Cup.
He made an immediate impression, scoring twice against former club Fluminense in the semi-final only days after arriving. He also scored in Chelsea’s outstanding 3–0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
That tournament became one of the defining moments of Chelsea’s period under their current ownership. Although the club later endured a disappointing Premier League season, finishing 10th and missing out on European qualification, João Pedro remained one of the few consistent positives.
Learning from disappointment
João Pedro was not included in Brazil’s squad for the World Cup, where the national team were eliminated by Norway in the last 16. Playing at a World Cup had been one of his greatest ambitions, but he dealt with the setback privately.
His mother says he rarely reacts angrily in public.
“When João Pedro is angry, he does not shout; he becomes quiet,” Junqueira said.
Following Chelsea’s difficult season and his omission from Brazil’s World Cup squad, the striker took two weeks away from football. He then returned to Rio de Janeiro, where he trained with Gonçalves and spent time with friends and family.
According to his long-time fitness coach, João Pedro remains grounded but is determined to reach an elite level.
Can he end the No. 9 curse?
João Pedro’s first goal of the season has already made the No. 9 debate less intimidating. His combination of movement, technical ability, strength and versatility gives Chelsea a forward capable of leading the attack while also linking with players such as Palmer and record signing Morgan Rogers.
The 24-year-old’s record-breaking finish against Fulham does not, by itself, erase two decades of disappointment associated with the shirt. But his 20-goal debut season, new long-term contract and excellent pre-season provide strong evidence that he is better equipped than many previous occupants.
If he maintains that level, João Pedro could turn Chelsea’s supposedly cursed No. 9 shirt into a symbol of renewal rather than failure.
