Lukaku’s Squad Number After £97m Chelsea Return Leaks

Chelsea unveiled Romelu Lukaku on Thursday evening after completing a club-record fee of £97million to return to Stamford Bridge.

The Belgian wore the No. 9 jersey for Inter Milan and the Red Devils, while he donned No. 10 for previous club Everton.

But neither of those squad numbers are available at Chelsea, with Tammy Abraham occupying No. 9 and Christian Pulisic No. 10.

As such, Lukaku is set to wear No. 18 for Thomas Tuchel’s side – the same number he was given when he joined from Anderlecht about ten years back.

The Premier League’s official website has listed Lukaku as No. 18, a jersey most recently worn by Olivier Giroud before his move to AC Milan earlier this summer.

Although he has been listed as No. 18, Lukaku may yet be given his ideal No. 9 shirt as Chelsea are yet to officially announce his squad number.

That is because Abraham is heavily linked with an exit from the club before the end of the transfer window.

Jose Mourinho’s Roma are leading Arsenal in the race for the 23-year-old Englishman’s signature.

Tammy Abraham’s departure would leave the No. 9 jersey free for Lukaku to inherit.