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Chelsea star stripped of iconic shirt number so Cole Palmer can have it
Mykhailo Mudryk has been stripped of his No.10 shirt at Chelsea. The £89million winger is provisionally suspended from playing football after failing a drugs test in late 2024. Mudryk remains unable to play for ChelseaGetty Mudryk, who has denied any wrongdoing, has not made a competitive appearance since November as he awaits the results of a secondary ‘B’ sample. If found guilty, the 24-year-old faces a lengthy ban, and Chelsea do not appear to be planning for a future with Mudryk. On Thursday, the Blues announced that Cole Palmer would be taking Mudryk’s No.10 shirt for the 2025/26 season. The Premier League giants made no mention of Mudryk in their press release. It read: “Palmer, who has worn the No.20 shirt since signing from Manchester City in September 2023, will make the switch ahead of our participation in [the FIFA Club World Cup] and could wear 10 for the first time when the Blues face Los Angeles FC in Atlanta on June 16.” Mudryk took part in Chelsea’s Conference League celebrations in Wroclaw, much to the surprise of manager Enzo Maresca, who did not know the winger had travelled to Poland. Palmer starred in the 4-1 victory over Real Betis, creating the first two Chelsea goals in spectacular fashion during a stunning second-half turnaround. Despite falling off the boil in 2025, the England star still finished the season with 15 goals and eight assists in 37 domestic matches, earning a nomination for Premier League Player of the Season. Palmer follows in the footsteps of Chelsea legend Eden Hazard, who he messaged in 2015 to say: “You’re the best player in the world.” The 23-year-old acknowledged Hazard on Instagram after taking the No.10 shirt, writing: “When you message one of your idols in 2015 and follow the footsteps.” View Tweet: https://t.co/2rLlK0T3Yu The Blues qualified for the 2025/26 Champions League by finishing fourth – and they have already made their intentions clear by signing striker Liam Delap from Ipswich. Delap joins in a £30million deal after Chelsea fended off competition from Everton, Newcastle and Man United. “I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach,” Delap said. “It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.” The 22-year-old Englishman has taken the vacant No.9 shirt, which infamously has a ‘cursed’ reputation following a number of failed striker signings. Every Chelsea No.9 since 2004 PlayerYearsMateja Kezman2004-2005Hernan Crespo2005-2006Khalid Boulahrouz2006-2007Steve Sidwell2007-2008Franco Di Santo2008-2010Fernando Torres2010-2015Radamel Falcao2015-2016Alvaro Morata2017-2018Gonzalo Higuain2018-2019Tammy Abraham2019-2022Romelu Lukaku2021-2022Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang2022-2023 Nobody has worn the ill-fated jersey since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang vacated it in 2023. He followed Romelu Lukaku, Gonzalo Higuain, Alvaro Morata, Radamel Falcao and Fernando Torres – among others – who have failed to perform as Chelsea’s No.9. Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for FREE on DAZN *If you click on a link in this Box Out we will earn affiliate revenue This year’s FIFA Club World Cup will see the top teams from around the world competing to be crowned champions. Here’s how to watch every game for free on DAZN: Sign Up: Go to the DAZN website and create a free account Select Your Package: Choose the free standard coverage Enjoy the Action: Watch all of the FIFA Club World Cup free on DAZN From Harry Kane to Erling Haaland, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promises to be packed with the most exciting football from the world’s top talent. Sign up to DAZN now and watch all of the FIFA Club World Cup for free
Mykhailo Mudryk has been stripped of his No.10 shirt at Chelsea.
The £89million winger is provisionally suspended from playing football after failing a drugs test in late 2024.
Mudryk, who has denied any wrongdoing, has not made a competitive appearance since November as he awaits the results of a secondary ‘B’ sample.
If found guilty, the 24-year-old faces a lengthy ban, and Chelsea do not appear to be planning for a future with Mudryk.
On Thursday, the Blues announced that Cole Palmer would be taking Mudryk’s No.10 shirt for the 2025/26 season.
The Premier League giants made no mention of Mudryk in their press release.
It read: “Palmer, who has worn the No.20 shirt since signing from Manchester City in September 2023, will make the switch ahead of our participation in [the FIFA Club World Cup] and could wear 10 for the first time when the Blues face Los Angeles FC in Atlanta on June 16.”
Mudryk took part in Chelsea’s Conference League celebrations in Wroclaw, much to the surprise of manager Enzo Maresca, who did not know the winger had travelled to Poland.
Palmer starred in the 4-1 victory over Real Betis, creating the first two Chelsea goals in spectacular fashion during a stunning second-half turnaround.
Despite falling off the boil in 2025, the England star still finished the season with 15 goals and eight assists in 37 domestic matches, earning a nomination for Premier League Player of the Season.
Palmer follows in the footsteps of Chelsea legend Eden Hazard, who he messaged in 2015 to say: “You’re the best player in the world.”
The 23-year-old acknowledged Hazard on Instagram after taking the No.10 shirt, writing: “When you message one of your idols in 2015 and follow the footsteps.”
The Blues qualified for the 2025/26 Champions League by finishing fourth – and they have already made their intentions clear by signing striker Liam Delap from Ipswich.
Delap joins in a £30million deal after Chelsea fended off competition from Everton, Newcastle and Man United.
“I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach,” Delap said.
“It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.”
The 22-year-old Englishman has taken the vacant No.9 shirt, which infamously has a ‘cursed’ reputation following a number of failed striker signings.
Every Chelsea No.9 since 2004
| Player | Years |
| Mateja Kezman | 2004-2005 |
| Hernan Crespo | 2005-2006 |
| Khalid Boulahrouz | 2006-2007 |
| Steve Sidwell | 2007-2008 |
| Franco Di Santo | 2008-2010 |
| Fernando Torres | 2010-2015 |
| Radamel Falcao | 2015-2016 |
| Alvaro Morata | 2017-2018 |
| Gonzalo Higuain | 2018-2019 |
| Tammy Abraham | 2019-2022 |
| Romelu Lukaku | 2021-2022 |
| Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang | 2022-2023 |
Nobody has worn the ill-fated jersey since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang vacated it in 2023.
He followed Romelu Lukaku, Gonzalo Higuain, Alvaro Morata, Radamel Falcao and Fernando Torres – among others – who have failed to perform as Chelsea’s No.9.
Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for FREE on DAZN
*If you click on a link in this Box Out we will earn affiliate revenue
This year’s FIFA Club World Cup will see the top teams from around the world competing to be crowned champions.
Here’s how to watch every game for free on DAZN:
- Sign Up: Go to the DAZN website and create a free account
- Select Your Package: Choose the free standard coverage
- Enjoy the Action: Watch all of the FIFA Club World Cup free on DAZN
From Harry Kane to Erling Haaland, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promises to be packed with the most exciting football from the world’s top talent.
Sign up to DAZN now and watch all of the FIFA Club World Cup for free
