Emi Martinez's Number Change at Chelsea: From 26 to No.1
Emi Martinez has been at Chelsea barely long enough to find his parking space, and he has already changed one of the most visible things about him.
From Terry’s 26 to the keeper’s throne
Martinez arrived from Aston Villa in a £7.5 million deal and walked straight into Stamford Bridge with a clear request: he wanted No.26. John Terry’s number. The shirt that carries a decade of trophies, tackles and defiance.
Chelsea agreed. Martinez pulled it on for his debut and promptly plunged into a seven-goal thriller, helping the Blues edge Brighton 4-3. It looked like the start of a new chapter for the old number.
Then the transfer window slammed shut, Robert Sanchez left for Como on deadline day, and everything shifted.
Sanchez’s loan opened up the most traditional jersey a goalkeeper can wear. No.1. Within days, Chelsea confirmed that Martinez had moved fast and claimed it.
Chelsea’s gesture to fans
The club knew what that meant for supporters. Many had already rushed to buy ‘Martinez 26’ shirts from the megastore and online.
So Chelsea offered something tangible in return.
Any fan who purchased the No.26 Martinez shirt from the official club store or website can bring it to Stamford Bridge by October 4, with proof of purchase, and have it personally signed by the Argentine. A small nod to the speed of modern football, where even a squad number can change before the ink on the receipt dries.
Terry’s blessing – and a quick goodbye to 26
The twist is that Martinez hadn’t taken 26 lightly in the first place.
He had worn the number during a previous loan spell and, before signing for Chelsea, reached out directly to Terry. He wanted the legend’s approval.
“John was someone I spoke to before I joined, and he said he was over the moon to have me here,” Martinez said. “The morning I signed, I texted him and said, ‘I’m wearing your shirt, and I’m going to do it with pride’.”
Terry did more than nod it through. He championed the signing and talked up Martinez as potentially the standout goalkeeper arrival of the summer.
“If I had the choice of any goalkeeper in the world, he would be right at the very top for me,” the former Chelsea captain said. “We signed him at Aston Villa from Arsenal and he was unbelievable. The confidence he shows, the way he trains, the influence he had on a group of players, the mindset is incredible.”
For Terry, the connection went deeper than just a number.
“He’s taking the 26 shirt, yes, we’ve given the green light,” he said. “You know why? Because he loves keeping clean sheets as much as I did when I wore the 26 shirt.”
That shared mentality made the original choice feel symbolic. But football moves quickly, and symbolism often gives way to practicality. For a 34-year-old goalkeeper coming in to be first choice, the pull of No.1 is obvious.
A restless number and a new owner
Since Terry retired, 26 has been a restless shirt at Chelsea. Kalidou Koulibaly wore it briefly. Levi Colwill took it for a season before switching to No.6. No one has truly made it theirs.
Martinez’s brief spell with 26 now joins that list. His legacy at the club, if it comes, will be written under a different digit.
The No.1 shirt, by contrast, is clear. It marks status. It strips away the romance and leaves the role: undisputed first-choice goalkeeper.
With Sanchez out on loan, that is exactly what Martinez has become.
Arsenal away and a familiar irony
The timing of the change adds a layer of intrigue to Chelsea’s next assignment.
Martinez is expected to wear No.1 for the first time when the Blues travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal. The same club where he once wore 26 in north London, often waiting patiently behind others before finally breaking through.
Now he returns as Chelsea’s main man, carrying a different number and a heavier responsibility, with a chaotic 4-3 win over Brighton behind him and the task of building momentum ahead.
The shirt has changed. The expectation has not.
