ROMELU LUKAKU will wear the No9 shirt at Chelsea despite the jersey's 'cursed' past.
The Belgian completed his £97.5million transfer from Inter Milan and will lead the line in the traditional striker's No9.
But the shirt's previous occupants at Stamford Bridge have been somewhat unlucky when wearing it.
Speaking at his first press conference since signing, Lukaku, 28, said: "I got the No9 and I am very happy and very fortunate to be in this situation."
The goal machine seems unfazed by the shirt's history. But Blues fans will be hoping the jinx will now end.
With Tammy Abraham leaving for Roma, the famous number that has undone many a world class centre-forward at Stamford Bridge was up for grabs.
Plenty of big-name buys before him have struggled in the Premier League era. And some of them weren't even forwards.
Notable nine flops include Fernando Torres, Gonzalo Higuain, Alvaro Morata, Radamel Falcao and Steve Sidwell.
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Chelsea fans will argue Torres' goal against Barcelona in the Nou Camp to seal a spot in the final of the 2012 Champions League was worth his £50m transfer fee alone.
But for some reason, the Spain legend could never really get going in a Chelsea shirt.
And it wasn't English football that was a struggle – because over four years at Liverpool he scored 81 goals in 142 games.
However, 45 strikes in 172 games for the Blues was a poor return for 'El Nino'.
But the so-called curse seems to be the furthest thing from Lukaku's mind.
He added: "It is good to be back. As a footballer you fight to achieve you dreams. I’m here now can’t wait to be on the pitch and perform with my team-mates."
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba wore the 11 shirt at the Bridge and Lukaku has been in touch with the iconic Ivorian.
He said: "Didier said he is really happy with the improvement I made in the last couple of seasons but also said there is more work to be done.
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"I want to achieve the maximum and it’s all about improvement.
"The last couple of years at Inter have been great but I am hungry to get started here."
On Wednesday it emerged Phlippe Coutinho has been handed Lionel Messi's iconic No10 shirt at Barcelona.
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