Chelsea: Dario Essugo shirt number confirmed as Blues team-mate stripped of squad spot | OneFootball

Blues’ latest signing has picked a number with plenty of history

Dario Essugo will shoulder big responsibility after Chelsea’s new signing learned his shirt number.

Essugo, signed by the Blues this summer from Sporting for £18.8million, will be part of Enzo Maresca’s squad for the upcoming Club World Cup.

The Portuguese will bolster the west Londoners’ midfield ranks, which include Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Romeo Lavia, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Now, Essugo has been handed the no14 shirt at Stamford Bridge, which leaves Joao Felix without a squad number.

The move throws further doubt on the future of £45million man Felix, who spent the second half of the season on loan at AC Milan after failing to impress Enzo Maresca.

Fresh impetus: Dario Essugo

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Speaking for the first time since his signing, the 20-year-old holding midfielder spoke of his excitement at joining Chelsea.

“It's a big step to make in my early career,” he said. “Every player dreams of getting to a big club, and Chelsea is no exception. It's a massive club and I'm feeling proud and very happy to be here.

“Chelsea showed big interest in me. When that happens, you can't turn it down. When my Dad told me Chelsea were interested, I was very happy and here we are now.”

Essugo will wear a number previously donned by some standout figures in Chelsea’s recent history.

Graham Le Saux wore the number on his back in both spells he had in west London, while academy graduates Fikayo Tomori and Trevoh Chalobah both carried the mantle in previous years.

Other notable names to have worn Chelsea’s no14 include Andre Schurrle, the German winger, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, who was signed from Monaco for £40m back in 2017.