Chelsea's No.26 Shirt Returns: Martinez Embraces Terry's Legacy

The No.26 shirt is back at Chelsea – and it carries a familiar shadow.

The club have confirmed that new signing Martinez will wear the number made iconic by John Terry, a choice that instantly ties the Argentine goalkeeper to one of Stamford Bridge’s greatest leaders. Terry wore 26 throughout his glittering career in West London, lifting Premier League titles, European trophies and more with that number on his back.

Since Terry’s farewell in 2017, 26 has almost disappeared from the Chelsea teamsheet. Only Kalidou Koulibaly and Levi Colwill have briefly taken it on, and neither had the time or the stage to redefine what it meant. Now it belongs to a goalkeeper with clear ambitions.

A number with weight

Squad numbers can be throwaway details at some clubs. Not this one. Not this shirt.

At Chelsea, 26 is a statement. By asking for it, Martinez has effectively walked into the dressing room and declared he wants responsibility, influence, and a voice – the kind of presence Terry once imposed on every training session and every tunnel line-up.

He didn’t make that call lightly. Before he committed to the number, Martinez checked with the man who made it famous. The pair worked together at Aston Villa during Terry’s time on the coaching staff, and that relationship allowed the keeper to turn what could have been a risky move into a respectful tribute.

"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 message was clear: this is not an act of bravado, but of intent.

A deal that came from nowhere

The transfer itself developed at a speed that cut across Chelsea’s public stance on their goalkeeping options. For much of the summer, the club projected confidence in the existing group. Then doubts over recent performances in goal sharpened the conversation. The mood shifted. So did the plan.

Chelsea moved quickly, striking a £7.5 million deal to bring in the Argentina international and drop him straight into one of the most scrutinised positions in English football. For Martinez, who has spent nearly 17 years in the country, the move felt like the culmination of a long climb.

"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."

The dream didn’t stay theoretical for long.

Thrown straight into the fire

Martinez was handed his debut almost immediately, starting in a wild 4-3 win over Brighton. Seven goals, constant swings in momentum, and a new keeper trying to impose calm on chaos.

He conceded three, but that only tells part of the story. Across the 90 minutes, the Argentine produced several crucial saves that protected Chelsea’s lead and ultimately underpinned the victory. In a match that could easily have slipped away, his interventions mattered.

Robert Sanchez still owns the No.1 shirt and, officially, the starting role. That dynamic now looks very different. With Martinez installed, the goalkeeping department suddenly has real edge, real competition, and a new No.26 determined to live up to the legacy stitched into his back.

Terry turned that number into a symbol of authority. Martinez has made his promise. Now he has to prove whether a goalkeeper can write the next great Chelsea chapter in 26.