Emiliano Martinez Embraces No.26 Legacy at Chelsea
Emiliano Martinez has walked into Chelsea and straight into a legacy.
The club have confirmed the Argentina international will wear the No.26 shirt, a number that at Stamford Bridge still belongs, in most minds, to John Terry. The former captain lifted almost every major trophy in that shirt. Since he left in 2017, it has barely seen the pitch – briefly taken by Kalidou Koulibaly and Levi Colwill, but never truly passed on.
Martinez has chosen to embrace that weight rather than dodge it.
Stepping into Terry’s shadow
At most clubs, a squad number is a formality. At Chelsea, 26 is different. It carries the noise of title parades, European nights, and a centre-back who defined an era.
By asking for it, Martinez is making a statement. He wants responsibility. He wants to be seen as a leader, not just another signing to deepen the goalkeeping pool.
He also knew he couldn’t do it without speaking to the man who made the number famous. Before committing to 26, Martinez contacted Terry, a figure he already knew from their time together at Aston Villa, where Terry worked on the coaching staff.
"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'."
No challenge, then, just a tribute – and a promise.
A transfer that moved at speed
The deal itself arrived almost out of nowhere. Chelsea had signalled they were broadly content with their options in goal. Then doubts grew over recent performances, and the mood shifted.
Once they moved, they moved fast. The Blues wrapped up Martinez for £7.5 million, an eye-catching price for a proven international who has spent nearly 17 years in English football.
For Martinez, the destination made the whirlwind worth it.
"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."
A dream that turned into reality almost immediately.
Thrown straight into the fire
There was no gentle introduction, no quiet cup tie to ease him in. Martinez went straight into the starting XI for a wild 4-3 win over Brighton, his Chelsea debut arriving within days of signing.
He conceded three times in a chaotic game, but the scoreline only tells half the story. In between the goals, he made several crucial saves that kept Chelsea in front and allowed them to drag the points over the line.
Robert Sanchez still wears the No.1 shirt and remains in the frame, but that status now comes with real pressure. Martinez’s arrival turns the goalkeeping position into a genuine battle, not a formality.
The shirt on his back carries history. The position he’s fighting for could shape Chelsea’s season. How long before No.26 feels like the number of a new leader rather than just a reminder of an old one?
