Moises Caicedo becomes first Chelsea player to wear Gianfranco Zola’s iconic number 25 in 20 years

Chelsea has announced that record-breaking signing Moises Caicedo would wear the team’s number 25 jersey.

The last occupant, the legendary Gianfranco Zola, gave the number special meaning at Stamford Bridge.

No one has taken the shirt despite a wide variety of high-profile acquisitions since the Italian left West London in 2003, despite the fact that it was the one Caicedo wore for Brighton.

When the 21-year-old emailed former Chelsea player Zola to request permission to wear the shirt, Zola replied: “Thank you for the message, Moises. I hope it will bring to you as many pleasures as it brought to me. Good luck.”

Caicedo, who recently closed a £115 million transfer to Chelsea, will be the first player to wear it since Zola.

Romeo Lavia, a Belgian international, as well as the Ecuadorian international, are both expected to make their debuts against West Ham on Sunday.