Emerson Palmieri is hours, possibly just minutes away from completing his €20m transfer from AS Roma to Chelsea. He flew to London earlier today to complete his medical and sign all the necessary papers, do all the necessary introductions, and film all the necessary segments for Chelsea TV and the club’s social media accounts. Part of those duties is to pose with the Chelsea shirt, and it’s pictures from this portion of the ceremony that have leaked.
Emerson Palmieri appears to have completed switch to Chelsea as he poses with the shirt ahead of £17.5million move https://t.co/yCsz05Bmaa pic.twitter.com/xVKP6rpIFK
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) January 30, 2018
Not only do they thus confirm his impending official announcement, but they also reveal his squad number: 33.
Emerson Palmieri #CFC pic.twitter.com/LjGm6kxEi6
— CHELSEA SAUDI FANS™ (@CFCSAUDIFANS) January 30, 2018
That’s the same number he wore at Roma for the past couple seasons, so the choice isn’t too surprising. It also fits in with the trend of many of Chelsea’s defenders picking numbers in the John Terry-neighborhood (Cahill 24, Christensen 27, Azpilicueta 28, David Luiz 30, etc).
That last Chelsea player to wear no.33 was Emerson’s fellow Brazilian and fellow defender, Alex, through Tomas Kalas also had it for a minute in 2013-14.