Emiliano Martinez Takes Iconic No.26 Shirt at Chelsea

Emiliano Martinez has walked through the doors at Cobham and straight into one of Chelsea’s heaviest shirts.

The club have confirmed the Argentina international will wear No.26, a number that in west London still belongs, in most minds, to John Terry. The former captain carried it through a career stacked with trophies and defining nights, and since his departure in 2017 it has barely reappeared. Only Kalidou Koulibaly and Levi Colwill have briefly taken it on.

For most clubs, a squad number is admin. At Chelsea, 26 is a statement.

By choosing it, Martinez is not just picking a familiar digit. He is planting a flag. The 32-year-old is arriving into a dressing room that has lacked strong, established voices in recent seasons, and the choice of Terry’s number is a clear nod to the type of presence he believes he can bring.

He also knew exactly what he was stepping into.

Before committing to the shirt, Martinez made sure he had the blessing of the man who made it iconic. The pair worked together at Aston Villa during Terry’s spell on the coaching staff, and the goalkeeper was determined his decision would be seen as a tribute, not an act of presumption.

"I remember using the 26 on loan a few times with previous clubs, and of course I knew John Terry famously had the 26 here," Martinez said. "John was someone I spoke to before I joined, and he said he was over the moon to have me here. From our time together at Aston Villa, he knows how hard I work and what I can bring to Chelsea. The morning I signed, I texted him and said, 'I'm wearing your shirt, and I'm going to do it with pride'."

The move itself arrived at speed. For much of the summer, Chelsea had briefed that they were comfortable with their goalkeeping department. Then doubts over recent performances grew, and the club pivoted. Once the decision was made, the deal with Villa — worth £7.5 million — was wrapped up quickly, catching plenty off guard.

For Martinez, who has spent nearly 17 years in English football, the call from Stamford Bridge hit differently.

"It’s incredible," he said in his first interview as a Chelsea player. "It’s been an amazing few days. Obviously, it happened really quickly, but I'm delighted to be at this football club. I’ve been in England for nearly 17 years and to play for Chelsea is a dream for me."

There was no gentle introduction. Martinez was thrown straight into the starting XI for a wild 4-3 win over Brighton, a game that showcased both the chaos Chelsea can create and the calm they need behind them.

He conceded three, yet his performance told a more complex story. The World Cup winner produced several crucial stops as Brighton pushed, interventions that preserved a fragile lead and allowed Chelsea to drag themselves over the line. It was exactly the sort of defiance the club hoped they were buying.

Robert Sanchez still owns the No.1 shirt and will not give it up easily, but that is the point. Chelsea have wanted sharper competition in goal. With Martinez now wearing 26 and already staking his claim on the pitch, the battle for the gloves at Stamford Bridge is about to intensify — under the shadow of a number that demands leadership.