Cole Palmer makes huge Chelsea decision in major Mykhailo Mudryk transfer hint

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Cole Palmer will wear the No.10 shirt for Chelsea, starting from the FIFA Club World Cup that begins later this month.

Palmer has worn the No.20 shirt since arriving from Manchester City almost two years ago, but will make the switch to the 10 for this month's Club World Cup in the United States. Mykhailo Mudryk, who is suspended from football after failing a drugs test in December, was the previous occupant of the No.10 shirt, perhaps hinting that his future lies away from Stamford Bridge.

Mudryk's future at the club remains uncertain, having not played for Chelsea since the Conference League win in Heidenheim all the way back in November.

Palmer will debut his new shirt on June 16 when Chelsea take on Los Angeles FC in their opening match of the US-based competition in Atlanta. Chelsea have confirmed that the full list of shirt numbers will be announced once the summer transfer window has closed, so they 'remain subject to change until that point'.

Chelsea have had some iconic No.10s in the past, not least Eden Hazard, who wore the famous shirt from 2013 until 2019. Joe Cole is another one who performed excellently at Stamford Bridge with the 10 on his back, but more recently (before Mudryk), the likes of Christian Pulisic, Willian, Juan Mata and Yossi Benayoun have all donned the number.

Elsewhere, Liam Delap will wear the No.9 at Chelsea following his £30million arrival from Ipswich Town. Confirmed on Wednesday evening, Delap has put pen to paper on a six-year contract in west London.

The 22-year-old striker turned down multiple offers from elsewhere in England, as well as a few from overseas, to rekindle his relationship with Enzo Maresca. Delap worked with the Chelsea head coach during their days together at Manchester City's academy and has now spoke about his excitement to play under the Italian once again.

"He is an incredible coach and helped us all develop so much," Delap said on Maresca. "What we did that season was record-breaking, and what he's gone on to achieve - and what the players in that age group have achieved - is incredible.

"He has a great understanding of the game. He was very detailed in how he approached things with us and while it can be hard at that age to take on so much information, he brought it across in a way we understood and could put into our games. I think it’s proved in the years since how much it has helped."

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