Emi Martinez takes Chelsea’s No1 shirt after just one appearance for the club.
Full name: Chelsea Football Club Nickname: The Blues Founded: 10 March 1905 Ground: Stamford Bridge Owner: BlueCo Chairman: Todd Boehly Manager: Xabi Alonso League: Premier League Season 2025-26: 10th position Website: chelseafc.com Chelsea Football Club is one of the most… Read More about CHELSEA
Emi Martinez has swapped his Chelsea number 26 for the No1 shirt after just one match, a switch that has dominated news headlines this week and confirms him as the club’s new first-choice goalkeeper.
Emi Martinez trades No.26 for Chelsea’s No.1 jersey
Martinez originally picked the No26 shirt when he joined from Aston Villa this summer. He said the number carried extra meaning because Chelsea legend John Terry wore it for years at the club. As reported by Chelsea’s official website, the goalkeeper wanted to honour Terry’s legacy rather than take the traditional No1 shirt straight away.
The Blues have handed Emi Martinez the No1 jersey, and photos show him proudly holding a shirt with his new number. The change confirms him as the clear No1 in Xabi Alonso’s goalkeeping plans this season. Only Mike Penders is now left to challenge him for the shirt after Sanchez’s departure to Como.
Emiliano Martinez’s stats in the 2025-26 season at Aston Villa, as per FOTMOB:
Competition Appearances Clean Sheets Saves Goal Conceded Save Percentage(%)
Premier League 32 7 95 39 70.9%
Europa League 11 6 30 7 81.1%
Sanchez errors force a quick rethink in goal
Chelsea had insisted all summer that Sanchez and Penders would share goalkeeping duties for the campaign. That plan unravelled fast once the new Premier League season actually began. Sanchez made two costly errors as Chelsea scraped past Fulham 3-2 on the opening weekend, and those mistakes pushed the club toward a swift change of plan.
From a tactical view, those errors mattered because Chelsea play a high defensive line that depends on a calm and reliable goalkeeper behind it in modern football. Sanchez was beaten at his near post by a low Josh King effort for Fulham’s opener. He then spilled a Timothy Castagne shot straight into the path of Gonzalo Garcia for the equaliser. Martinez, by contrast, is known for composed footwork and sharp shot-stopping, qualities that suit Chelsea’s passing style under Xabi Alonso.
Chelsea signed Martinez from Aston Villa for a fee of around £7.5 million. His move came after his proposed transfer to Juventus collapsed earlier this summer. He made his debut in a chaotic 4-3 win over Brighton last weekend. He wore the No26 shirt for that single appearance before the switch was confirmed. Sanchez has since been told he can leave the club this season. He has joined Como in Italy on loan for the rest of the season.
Chelsea’s statement on Martinez’s kit
Chelsea released an official statement to explain the surprise number change to supporters. The club confirmed that Martinez would sign shirts for fans who had already bought his old No26 jersey, with the deadline set for October 4. “Emi has kindly offered to sign all ‘Martinez 26’ shirts,” the statement read, referring to items bought through the official Megastore or club website.
John Terry had already given the move his blessing before Martinez even arrived. As reported by The Standard, Terry said earlier this summer**: “He’s taking the 26 shirt, yes, we’ve given the green light,”** adding that Martinez shared his own hatred of conceding goals. Martinez later revealed he texted Terry the morning he signed, telling him he would wear the number with pride.
Emi Martinez could wear his new number for the first time when Chelsea travel to face Arsenal this Sunday. Arsenal have won both their opening fixtures this season at the Emirates. A strong display there would settle any lingering questions over Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation.