---
title: "Chelsea strip £50m Liam Delap of No 9 as exit pressure grows"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2026/08/20/chelsea-strip-50m-liam-delap-of-no-9-as-exit-pressure-grows/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "James Chettle"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2026-08-20T06:45:00Z"
modified: "2026-08-20T06:45:00Z"
---

# Chelsea strip £50m Liam Delap of No 9 as exit pressure grows

**Chelsea have handed Liam Delap another significant indication of his position in Xabi Alonso’s squad after taking the No.9 shirt away from the £50million-rated striker.**

Joao Pedro will wear No.9 for the 2026/27 campaign, with Delap reassigned to No.12 after wearing Chelsea’s main striker number last season.

[Chelsea officially confirmed the change](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/chelsea-squad-numbers-confirmed-for-the-2026-27-season) on Wednesday as preparations continue for Monday’s Premier League opener against Fulham.

It comes alongside another development which raises further questions over Delap’s future.

[The Times reports](https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/liam-delap-nicolas-jackson-tosin-chelsea-02pr9jmd9) that Delap is currently training outside Alonso’s main first-team cohort alongside Nicolas Jackson and Tosin Adarabioyo.

> Liam Delap has lost the No9 shirt at Chelsea and is among a group of players who are training separately from the rest of the first team. The group also includes Tosin Adarabioyo and Nicolas Jackson [@peterrutzler](https://x.com/peterrutzler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) reports 🔽 [https://t.co/9CSdeZS95d](https://t.co/9CSdeZS95d)
>
> — Times Sport (@TimesSport) [August 19, 2026](https://x.com/TimesSport/status/2090153224296677693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

## Liam Delap Chelsea future takes another turn

Chelsea sources have stressed that the separate training group should not simply be viewed as a collection of unwanted players, with some members working on their fitness.

Delap’s inclusion is still notable given the uncertainty surrounding his future.

The 23-year-old is available for around £50m after joining Chelsea from Ipswich Town for £30m last summer.

His competition has also increased significantly.

[ReadChelsea reported on Wednesday that Emmanuel Emegha will remain in Alonso’s first-team squad](https://readchelsea.com/2026/08/19/chelsea-make-surprise-emegha-call-as-100m-striker-decisions-loom/), placing further pressure on Delap and Jackson before the transfer window closes.

Joao Pedro’s status looks very different.

Chelsea have not only handed the Brazilian Delap’s former shirt. [The club have also moved to reward Joao Pedro with improved terms](https://readchelsea.com/2026/08/19/chelsea-make-huge-joao-pedro-call-despite-having-six-years-left-on-deal/) despite six years remaining on his existing contract.

Delap had wanted to stay and prove himself under Alonso, but Chelsea’s latest decisions provide a clearer picture of the attacking hierarchy.

A shirt-number change alone does not guarantee a transfer, and there is currently no suggestion that an exit is agreed.

Combined with his £50m availability and place outside the main training group, however, Delap enters the final part of the window with his Chelsea position looking increasingly uncertain.