Wear Your Number: The Story Behind João Pedro's Chain

When João Pedro scores, he points to his chest. Lately, there's been a 9 hanging there. Chelsea's striker has been showing off a custom chain built around his shirt number and his goal celebration, and this week he went one step further by trademarking both "JP9" and the celebration itself.

It's a good reminder of what makes a chain worth wearing. Here's who João Pedro is, what his 9 pendant is about, why that number carries so much weight at Chelsea, and how to make a chain of your own that means something.

A chain built around what matters to you. Featured: our Build Your Own Pendant collection.

Jump to:

• Who João Pedro is
• His 9 pendant
• Why the number 9 matters at Chelsea
• JP9 and the trademark
• Why personal chains work
• How to make a chain your own
• FAQs

Who Is João Pedro?

João Pedro Junqueira de Jesus was born in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, in 2001 and came through the youth system at Fluminense. He moved to England with Watford in 2020, joined Brighton in 2023 and signed for Chelsea in July 2025, for a reported £55m plus add-ons on a deal running to 2033.

He made an instant impact. At the 2025 Club World Cup, days after joining, he scored twice in the semi-final against Fluminense, his old club, and then scored in the 3-0 final win over Paris Saint-Germain. He's also a Brazil international, and this season he has been one of the Premier League's most in-form strikers.

What Is João Pedro's 9 Pendant?

After scoring twice in Chelsea's 5-1 win over Bournemouth, João Pedro showed off a necklace made for him alone. The centrepiece is an oversized number 9, his Chelsea shirt number, and the design also pays tribute to his goal celebration.

The celebration itself is simple and instantly recognisable: a "W" made with one hand in front of his face, and the thumb of his other hand pointing down. He hasn't explained it publicly. Fans have their theories, the most popular being a nod to Kakashi from the anime Naruto, but nothing has been confirmed.

Who made the chain hasn't been reported, so we won't guess. What matters is the idea. It's not a logo or a brand name around his neck. It's his number, and his moment.

Why Does the Number 9 Matter at Chelsea?

Because for years it was the shirt nobody wanted. Some of the biggest strikers of their generation, including Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Álvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuaín, Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, wore Chelsea's 9 and struggled to live up to it. Former manager Thomas Tuchel reportedly went as far as calling it cursed.

That's what makes the pendant interesting. Rather than play the number down, João Pedro has put it on his chest. It's a statement of confidence: he isn't avoiding the shirt's history, he's claiming it.

What Is JP9?

On 20 October, it was reported that João Pedro had trademarked both "JP9" and his celebration, announcing it in a post on LinkedIn. "I've always wanted JP9 to represent something beyond football," he wrote. The JP9 name already appears on custom headphones made with Beats, with a logo designed to reflect his Brazilian roots.

Seen that way, the chain is part of something bigger. His initials, his number and his celebration have become a personal mark, and the pendant is the most personal version of it. He wears it where he points every time he scores.

Why Do Personal Chains Work?

Most jewellery says "I like this". A personal piece says "this is me". A number, a date, a saint, an animal, a place: whatever it is, it's something only you can fully explain, and that's exactly what gives it weight.

It also changes how a chain is worn. A piece with meaning tends to be worn every day rather than saved for occasions, and it picks up more meaning the longer you wear it. That's why so many footballers touch or kiss a pendant when they score. It isn't an accessory to them. It's a reminder.

How Do You Make a Chain Your Own?

You don't need a custom commission to wear something personal. Start with what you want it to say, then build around it.

Start with a symbol that's yours

Every classic pendant carries a meaning. A Compass for direction, a Lion for strength, a Cross for faith, or an Enamel Saint Christopher for anyone who travels, which, for a footballer, is most weeks. Our guide to what the St Christopher necklace means explains why he's been a favourite for so long.

A symbol with a meaning behind it. Featured: the Compass pendant in silver.

Build it up

João Pedro's chain combines more than one idea: his number and his celebration. Our Build Your Own Pendant works the same way. You start with a base pendant and add up to two mini pendants or gemstone charms, with hundreds of combinations to choose from, so the finished piece tells your story rather than anyone else's.

Pick the right chain

A pendant needs a chain that lets it hang properly. A fine 2mm Connell keeps the focus on the pendant, while something a little heavier suits a bigger, bolder piece. Our chain length guide shows where each length sits, so the pendant lands where you want it.

A pendant on a fine chain, worn every day. Featured: the Lion pendant in silver.

Wear it every day

A personal chain earns its meaning through wear. Over a plain tee, under an open collar or tucked under a training top, it should feel like part of you rather than part of the outfit. Keep the rest simple so the one piece that matters stands out.

João Pedro's Chain: FAQs

What chain does João Pedro wear?

A custom-made necklace with an oversized number 9, his Chelsea shirt number, which also nods to his goal celebration. He showed it off after scoring twice in Chelsea's 5-1 win over Bournemouth. Who made it hasn't been reported.

What does João Pedro's celebration mean?

He makes a "W" with one hand in front of his face and points the thumb of his other hand down. He hasn't explained it publicly. One popular fan theory links it to Kakashi from the anime Naruto, but that hasn't been confirmed.

Has João Pedro trademarked his celebration?

Yes. It was reported on 20 October 2026 that he had trademarked both "JP9" and his celebration. He announced it on LinkedIn, saying he wanted JP9 to represent something beyond football.

What number does João Pedro wear at Chelsea?

He wears the number 9. He joined Chelsea from Brighton in July 2025 for a reported £55m plus add-ons, on a deal running to 2033.

How do you make a chain personal?

Start with a symbol that means something to you, like a saint, a compass or a lion, then build around it. Our Build Your Own Pendant lets you add up to two mini pendants or gemstone charms to a base pendant, so the finished piece is yours.

What chain should you wear with a pendant?

A fine chain of around 2mm to 3mm lets a pendant hang flat and do the talking. Heavier chains suit pendants with more weight, or work layered above a finer pendant chain.

Wear What's Yours

João Pedro's 9 works because nobody else could wear it the same way. Yours doesn't need to be a number, but it should be something that's yours. Browse our men's pendants for a starting point, or build your own from scratch.