From Eden Hazard To Cole Palmer:
The number 10 jersey is not just a shirt at Chelsea, it’s a statement. A symbol of flair, finesse, and footballing wizardry. And at Stamford Bridge, that number has passed through the feet of some truly iconic names. From dazzling dribblers to cult heroes, the number 10 has always belonged to players who made the fans dream.
The Blues have announced that Cole Palmer will be wearing the Number 10 jersey for Chelsea. It is a great time to look at the different players who donned the jersey and made it their own.
So let’s roll back the years and relive the blue brilliance of Chelsea’s most iconic number 10s.
Eden Hazard (2013–2019): The Belgian Magician
If you’re talking about Chelsea’s number 10 shirt and don’t mention Eden Hazard, you’re doing it wrong. Hazard didn’t just wear the shirt, he owned it.
With 110 goals, 88 assists, and the ability to break ankles with a single shimmy, Hazard was box-office entertainment. He won everything in England: 2 Premier Leagues, 2 Europa Leagues, an FA Cup, and a League Cup. All while looking like he was just out there having fun.
In short: Eden Hazard didn’t play football, he performed it.
Joe Cole (2003–2010): The Streets Won’t Forget
Before Hazard turned defenders into traffic cones, it was Joe Cole setting Stamford Bridge alight. One of the most naturally gifted English players of his generation, Cole had that street footballer vibe.
He wore the number 10 during Chelsea’s rise under Abramovich, scoring 40 goals and assisting 42 in 281 appearances. Three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and a League Cup, not bad for someone who nutmegged defenders for sport.
Juan Mata (2011–2014): El Maestro
Mata might have looked like a university professor, but on the pitch, he was pure elegance.
Back-to-back Chelsea Player of the Year awards? Check. Champions League winner in 2012? Check. FA Cup and Europa League medals? Check again.
With 33 goals and 53 assists in just 135 games, Mata was the creative heartbeat of that Chelsea side, a magician with a left foot made of silk.
Willian (2019-2020 as No. 10): The Reliable Rocket
Willian didn’t wear the number 10 shirt for long, but his impact at Chelsea lasted the better part of a decade. He only donned the legendary number for one season, but the Brazilian winger’s overall record reads 63 goals and 58 assists in 339 appearances.
Five major trophies, countless free-kicks that curled like a painting, Willian was the kind of player who always showed up when it mattered.
Christian Pulisic (2020–2023): Captain America’s London Chapter
After Willian moved on, the number 10 shirt went to the American wonderboy, Christian Pulisic.
Though his Chelsea career was a rollercoaster of form and injuries, he had his moments, especially in that 2019-20 post-lockdown run.
Part of the team that lifted the Champions League in 2021, Pulisic brought pace, directness, and a fresh fanbase from across the Atlantic.
Peter Osgood (1965-1966, 1968-1969, 1971-1972): The Original King of the Bridge
Before the modern flair players came along, there was Peter Osgood. Nicknamed “The King of Stamford Bridge,” Osgood was Chelsea’s poster boy in the ’60s and ’70s.
He wore several shirt numbers during his time, but had notable stints in the number 10.
139 goals in 356 games. FA Cup. European Cup Winners’ Cup. And vibes that made him a legend. Osgood wasn’t just a player, he was an era.
