Joao Pedro needed just 31 seconds to make an emphatic first impression as Chelsea's new number nine, guiding a delicate finish over Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno to help set up a thrilling 3-2 victory at Craven Cottage. The win marked Xabi Alonso's first match in charge of the Blues and came during what has already been a landmark few days for the Brazilian forward.
Over the weekend, Joao Pedro was handed the number nine shirt and agreed improved financial terms on a contract extension running until 2034. The timing carries extra significance given the shirt's troubled recent history at Stamford Bridge. No Chelsea striker has enjoyed sustained success wearing the number nine since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink departed in 2004. Since then, a string of expensive forwards—including Romelu Lukaku, Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain, Radamel Falcao and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang—struggled to make the shirt their own, while Liam Delap, the most recent occupant, managed just one Premier League goal last season and is now reportedly in talks over a move to Nottingham Forest.
Joao Pedro, however, is unfazed by any superstition surrounding the number. "I don't believe in that. I don't think numbers can decide this pressure," he told the Mirror after his opener against Fulham, where he lined up alongside Cole Palmer and £117m signing Morgan Rogers, who made his debut.
The 24-year-old enters the new season with strong credentials. Last term he scored 20 goals in all competitions, becoming the first Chelsea striker since Diego Costa nine years earlier to hit that tally, and was named the club's player of the season despite a difficult campaign that saw Chelsea finish 10th without silverware or European qualification. His form justified the roughly £55m fee, with a further £5m in potential add-ons, that Chelsea paid Brighton for him last summer—a deal that included an immediate impact at the Club World Cup, where he scored twice against former side Fluminense in the semi-final and again in the 3-0 final win over Paris Saint-Germain.
Behind that composure lies a demanding journey. Raised largely by his mother, Flavia Junqueira, and grandmother in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, Joao Pedro faced early hardship after his father, ex-Botafogo player Jose Joao de Jesus, spent years in prison. "Joao had a dream. I shared that dream with my son. The dream didn't have a price," Junqueira told BBC Sport, describing the sacrifices made to support his development at Fluminense's academy, where he was once told he wasn't strong enough to succeed.
With the help of long-time personal trainer Rodrigo Goncalves, Joao Pedro transformed physically, eventually catching the eye of Watford's scouting network—partly through a recommendation from Richarlison—and moved to England in December 2019. The transition was eased by fellow Brazilian Heurelho Gomes, who welcomed the family during their first months in the country. During the Covid lockdown, Joao Pedro used the downtime to add significant muscle mass, preparing him for the physical demands of the Premier League.
Now established as one of Chelsea's key figures, he is seen internally as a culture-setter alongside Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Reece James, all of whom have committed their futures to the club. Sources have described a need to repair a fractured Chelsea dressing room, and Joao Pedro's willingness to engage with media and bridge language-based cliques has been noted positively by staff.
Despite being left out of Brazil's World Cup squad this summer, a omission believed to have disappointed him greatly—"When Joao Pedro is angry, he doesn't shout, he goes quiet," his mother said—he returned to pre-season sharp, scoring eight goals in seven friendlies before his early strike against Fulham.
As Alonso begins reshaping Chelsea's identity, his front three, including Rogers, drew praise after the win. "They need to take responsibility. They need to lead the rest. They need to inspire the rest because if they do great, the others will follow," Alonso said.
For now, all signs suggest Joao Pedro may finally be the man to end Chelsea's long search for a reliable number nine.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.