Emiliano Martinez has switched from No.26 to Chelsea’s No.1 shirt, a small change on paper but one that carries a practical twist for supporters who already bought his earlier kit.
The Argentinian international initially wore No.26 for Chelsea, including in the 4-3 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge. But with Robert Sanchez moving on loan to Como, the No.1 shirt became available and Martinez has now taken it.
Why the shirt change matters
This is not just a squad-number update. Chelsea have told supporters who purchased a Martinez 26 shirt that they can bring it to Stamford Bridge, provided they have proof of purchase, so it can be signed. The deadline mentioned for that process is October 4.
The club said Martinez is offering to sign shirts marked Martinez 26 that were bought through the official Club Megastore or the official Club website. For fans, that means the original number does still have value, even if the goalkeeper has already moved on to the No.1 shirt.
What comes next
For Chelsea, the switch simply underlines the pecking order in the goalkeeping department after Sanchez’s exit. For supporters, the immediate issue is more straightforward: anyone who backed Martinez 26 will need to act before October 4 if they want to take advantage of the signing opportunity.
It is a neat reminder that even a squad number change can have a real impact when a new signing settles in and the shirt in question becomes part of the story.
