Chelsea’s long-standing inability to find a dependable No.9 since Didier Drogba’s departure has been one of English football’s most discussed recurring narratives — and former Arsenal and France midfielder Emmanuel Petit believes Victor Osimhen is uniquely equipped to resolve it.
Speaking to Andy’s Bet Club, Petit identified the Nigerian international as the rare striker capable of handling the burden that has broken so many others at Stamford Bridge. “Since Drogba, I think there’s been a curse around the number nine at Chelsea,” the World Cup winner said. “I think it’s different with Osimhen because this guy has a really big personality and character, he could be the man to break that curse.”
The so-called Chelsea No.9 curse has claimed a remarkable number of high-profile casualties over the past decade. Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Álvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuaín, and Romelu Lukaku all arrived at Stamford Bridge with significant reputations but each failed to deliver consistent output in the role, becoming cautionary tales in the process.
Osimhen is currently on a season-long loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, and the 26-year-old has impressed in the Turkish Süper Lig. His stint in Istanbul has kept him in contention for a high-profile summer move, with Chelsea among the clubs reportedly monitoring his situation. According to reports, the Blues remain keen on addressing their attacking deficiencies ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Petit admitted some surprise at Osimhen’s decision to join Galatasaray following his time at Napoli, where the Super Eagles forward was one of Europe’s most feared strikers. “Victor Osimhen is doing well with Galatasaray but when he left Napoli, I was hoping that he was going to come to the Premier League. I have no idea why he chose Galatasaray,” the Frenchman said.
Despite that uncertainty, Petit stopped short of questioning Osimhen’s credentials for a potential Premier League move. His comments centred specifically on the psychological demands of the Chelsea No.9 shirt — a role Petit believes demands qualities that go beyond technical ability or goal-scoring record.
Osimhen’s contract situation adds further context to the speculation. His loan at Galatasaray runs through the current season, after which Napoli will assess permanent offers. The Serie A club had been seeking a fee in the region of €75 million for the forward, though the final figure of any deal would depend on market conditions at the time of negotiation.
At Napoli, Osimhen was central to the club’s 2022/23 Serie A title triumph — their first league championship in 33 years — finishing the campaign with 26 goals in the Italian top flight. That form cemented his reputation as one of Africa’s finest attacking talents and earned him the 2023 African Footballer of the Year award.
If Chelsea do move for Osimhen in the upcoming transfer window, the deal would represent one of the more significant striker acquisitions in the Premier League in recent years — and, according to Petit, potentially the one that finally lays the Stamford Bridge No.9 curse to rest.
