Joao Pedro scored after 31 seconds in his first appearance wearing Chelsea's number nine shirt, guiding the ball over Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno in the Blues' 3-2 victory at Craven Cottage on Monday. The goal came in manager Xabi Alonso's first game in charge.
Pedro's quick impact coincided with the announcement of improved financial terms on a new contract running through 2034. The 24-year-old was asked about Chelsea's so-called number nine curse after the match. "I don't believe in that. I don't think numbers can decide this pressure," he told the Mirror. Since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink departed in 2004, no prolific striker has succeeded in the shirt at Chelsea. Recent wearers of the number including Romelu Lukaku, Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain, Radamel Falcao and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang endured difficult spells at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea signed Pedro from Brighton for £55 million plus up to £5 million in add-ons. Last season, he scored 20 goals in all competitions, making him the first Chelsea striker since Diego Costa nine years earlier to reach that mark. His mother, Flavia Junqueira, told BBC Sport: "If I gave him one thing, it is to fight for what you want all the time."
Pedro grew up in Ribeirao Preto, far inland from Rio de Janeiro, and was scouted by Fluminense. His mother left her job and relocated with him to Rio, though he struggled initially with homesickness and doubts about his physical development. A personal trainer hired by Junqueira helped transform his physique. He joined Watford in December 2019 after spending eight months securing a UK work permit.
