Joao Pedro can't have perfect Chelsea shirt number after missing out to £30million man

Joao Pedro will not be able to wear the No. 9 shirt if he completes his move to Chelsea - but there is another sentimental number he could be given.

The Blues recently agreed a £55million deal, plus £5m in add-ons, with Brighton & Hove Albion for the Brazilian international. He is expected to soon sign a seven-year contract ahead of his arrival at Stamford Bridge.

It's a move which comes two days after Chelsea had a £55m bid for Borussia Dortmund forward Jamie Gittens accepted. If both players are registered before July 3, they will be able to join Enzo Maresca's squad in the USA for the Club World Cup.

The west Londoners face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals, having recently beaten Benfica 4-1 after extra-time. There is a wide variety of shirt numbers Pedro could be given when he arrives across the pond.

However, he will not be able to try his luck at ending the so-called 'No. 9 curse' at Chelsea. Instead, that role is being carried out by £30m summer signing Liam Delap, who arrived from Ipswich Town before the start of the US competition.

Pedro has worn the No. 9 ever since he joined Brighton from Watford for £35m at the start of the 2023-24 campaign. Before his move to the South Coast, Pedro wore the No. 10 shirt.

This number is also unavailable, as it was recently stripped off Mykhailo Mudryk and given to Cole Palmer. However, Pedro could request the No. 21 shirt, a number he has worn for Brazil on many occasions.

The versatile forward was heavily linked with a move for Newcastle United before Chelsea asserted themselves. It has been another busy transfer window for the Blues, who have also signed Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr, while Kendry Paez arrived at the club, two years after a deal was agreed for him.

Estevao Willian will also arrive in west London after the Club World Cup, where he has been starring for Palmeiras. Ironically, he will likely be involved against the Blues, when they face each other on Saturday July 5 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Chelsea will be without Moises Caicedo when they face their Brazilian counterparts. The Ecuadorian midfielder will be serving a one-match ban having picked up a second yellow card of the tournament in the victory against Benfica.

However, this may open the door for Brazilian prodigy Andrey Santos to be handed his first senior start for the west Londoners. Meanwhile, central defender Benoit Badiashile will also be absent having been forced off the pitch with an injury in the 70th minute.

Chelsea will be boosted by the return of Nicolas Jackson as the two-match ban he was handed after his straight red card in the 3-1 defeat to Flamengo is now over. As well as battling Palmeiras, who knocked out fellow Brazilians Botafogo in the Round of 16, many Chelsea players will be at risk of getting suspended for the semi-final.

Captain Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, Pedro Neto, Delap and Palmer go into the quarter-final having received one booking. Another caution will result in them being handed a suspension for the semi-final.

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