Overview
- Chelsea confirmed that Emiliano Martinez has moved from squad number 26 to the No.1 shirt following Robert Sanchez’s loan move to Como and the club has named Martinez its de facto first-choice goalkeeper.
- Martinez joined from Aston Villa for a reported £7.5 million and wore No.26 on his Stamford Bridge debut in a 4-3 win over Brighton before the rapid number change.
- The club’s decision followed key errors by Sanchez early in the season that prompted Chelsea to reverse its pre-season plan to start Sanchez and Mike Penders as the top two keepers.
- To compensate supporters who bought the new No.26 shirts bearing ‘Martinez’, the club says Martinez will personally sign any official ‘Martinez 26’ jerseys brought to the Chelsea Megastore or shown with proof of purchase by October 4.
- Martinez is expected to wear the No.1 shirt in the upcoming trip to Arsenal, a move that cements his immediate role on the field and affects merchandise and club identity tied to squad numbers.