Chelsea have allocated the number 19 shirt to new signing Jadon Sancho for the 2024/25 season.
Sancho has signed for the Blues on an initial loan from Manchester United – subject to certain undisclosed conditions being met, the deal will become permanent.
The winger’s move to Stamford Bridge was completed just before the transfer deadline, although confirmation was not made public until almost 24 hours later.
With Sancho now at the door, Chelsea he has been handed his number for the upcoming campaign, with the England international wearing 19.
There is a peculiar recent history of this number at Chelsea. He was actually assigned to fellow summer signing Pedro Neto following his switch from Wolves last month, and made his debut against Manchester City in that shirt.
However, Neto soon moved to seven – which was usurped by Raheem Sterling, who has since joined Arsenal on loan – and so the 19th was once again vacant.
Neto had taken 19 off another player deemed surplus to requirements by Chelsea, and Armando Broja also lost his number before leaving on loan at Everton.
Before Broja, 19 was worn by academy graduate Mason Mount, who left to join United in the summer of 2023 but has yet to rediscover the form of his Chelsea days.
The likes of Diego Costa, Demba Ba, Paulo Ferreira, Lassana Diarra and Scott Parker have also earned 19 caps for the Blues in the Premier League era of permanent numbers.
Sancho He will not be able to make his Chelsea debut against Crystal Palace on Sunday but could feature in their trip to Bournemouth on the other side of the September international break.
