The midfielder has opted to take up the No.8, the number he wears at international level for Croatia, leaving the 17 vacant for the current campaign.

Tino Anjorin is another player to take up a new number, moving to 27, while Trevoh Chalobah will wear the 14 shirt previously owned by Fikayo Tomori.

Goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, who arrived from Fulham in the summer, takes No.13 while returning loanee Ruben Loftus-Cheek takes up the No.12 shirt he wore before heading out on loan last season.

Romelu Lukaku, who joined the Blues from Inter Milan, has taken the number nine shirt.

Chelsea squad numbers 2021/22

1 Kepa Arrizabalaga2 Antonio Rudiger3 Marcos Alonso4 Andreas Christensen5 Jorginho6 Thiago Silva7 N’Golo Kante8 Mateo Kovacic9 Romelu Lukaku10 Christian Pulisic11 Timo Werner12 Ruben Loftus-Cheek13 Marcus Bettinelli14 Trevoh Chalobah15 Kurt Zouma16 Edouard Mendy19 Mason Mount20 Callum Hudson-Odoi21 Ben Chilwell22 Hakim Ziyech24 Reece James27 Tino Anjorin28 Cesar Azpilicueta29 Kai Havertz33 Emerson Palmieri36 Lucas Bergstrom44 Ethan Ampadu

Replica shirt exchanges

We are aware that some supporters may have already purchased the new 2021/22 home shirt (launched 20 May 2021) and/or the new 2021/22 away shirt (launched 29 July 2021) with previous squad numbers on the back.We will be offering anybody who has proof of purchase from an official club store a free exchange, subject to availability, from today until 9 October 2021. All returned shirts will be donated to the Chelsea Foundation.• For those who purchased from the Stadium Megastore at Stamford Bridge, simply return the 2021/22 home or away shirt with proof of purchase in person for a replacement.• For those who purchased from the club's official online store (ChelseaMegastore.com) return the 2021/22 home and/or away shirt by post with a copy of the order confirmation email(s) to the store you made the original purchase from. A replacement like-for-like shirt will then be sent to you by post free of charge.• For those purchases from non-Chelsea Football Club outlets, the club will offer a 50 percent discount on a purchase of a new 2021/22 home and/or away shirt, upon return of the existing 2021/22 shirt(s) with proof of purchase. This offer is only eligible to those who can visit the Stadium Megastore at Stamford Bridge in person.Terms and conditions1. Only shirts purchased between 13th May 2021 and 13th August are eligible and shirts must be received into the online store warehouse no later than 9th October. Strictly no exchanges or discounts will be offered after 9 October 2021. In the case of purchases made through the club's official online store (ChelseaMegastore.com), no exchanges or discounts will be offered for items received by that partner after 9th October 2021.2. This offer is for 2021/22 Chelsea Home Shirts (that launched on 9 July 2021) and for 2021/22 Chelsea Away shirts (that launched on 30 July 2021) only. No other replacements will be permitted3. This offer is subject to stock availability. For sizes not currently in stock, replacement shirts will be sent as soon as they become available.4. For customers who have purchased either a 2021/22 Home or Away Little Kids kit or 2021/22 Home Infant Kit, the customer only needs to return the shirt (not shorts or socks)5. Due to depleted stock levels, for customers who purchased a 2021/22 Away Infant Kit from chelseamegastore.com, we ask customers to keep hold of their kit until a member of their Customer Services team contacts you to discuss other available options6. Receipt of satisfactory and legible proof of purchase is required (this can be in the format of till receipt or bank statement)7. Replacement shirts will not be permitted without proof of purchase8. Chelsea Football Club cannot accept responsibility for any shirts lost in transit or for any shirts received without proof of purchase and return name and address details9. Customers must cover postage costs to send the 2021/22 shirt back to the club's online partner10. This offer does not affect your statutory rights.11. No refunds will be permitted.