Joao Felix's shirt number at Chelsea
Chelsea have announced the loan signing of Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix for the remainder of the 2022/23 season.
The Blues beat out fierce competition to bring the 23-year-old to Stamford Bridge and his arrival has generated a bit of a buzz among Chelsea supporters despite their recent woes under Graham Potter. There's hope that the hugely talented Felix, who we haven't seen at his best at club level for quite some time, will ignite their campaign during the second-half of the season.
Felix's arrival was announced at Wednesday lunchtime, but fans were left questioning as to what shirt number he'll don in west London. There was no official confirmation by the club as he was welcomed to Stamford Bridge, but it's since become clear which two (mini spoiler) digits will be on the back of his Chelsea shirt.
What shirt number will Joao Felix wear at Chelsea?
Joao Felix will wear the number 11 shirt for Chelsea!!! Photo:-@LDNFootbalI pic.twitter.com/Ui3tjFnpyh
— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) January 11, 2023
That's right, Felix will wear the number 11 shirt during his brief stay with Chelsea.
Chelsea's most recent holders of the number 11 shirt
- Timo Werner (2020-2022)
- Pedro (2016-2020)
- Alexandre Pato (2016)
- Juan Cuadrado (2015-2016)
- Didier Drogba (2014-2015)
Felix is following in the footsteps of Timo Werner as Chelsea's number 11. The German was a loveable figure and a useful outlet, but the prolific form that manifested in Leipzig failed to translate over to the Premier League. Werner has since returned to Die Roten Bullen after spending two years at the club.
Other incumbents of the shirt have had more success, none more so than Didier Drogba. The Ivorian is a modern-day Chelsea legend and is regarded as one of the Premier League's greatest ever strikers. His clutch form during the Blues' magical run to their first Champions League crown placed Drogba into Chelsea folklore for eternity.
Spanish winger Pedro is another success story. He played an underrated role in the Blues' Premier League triumph under Antonio Conte in 2016/17. Damien Duff and Dennis Wise also enjoyed stellar Chelsea careers as the club's number 11, while the legendary Peter Osgood briefly donned the shirt during the 1969/70 season.