Emiliano Martinez has switched Chelsea squad numbers after only one match with the Argentine taking over the No1 shirt.
Martinez accomplished a £7.5million transfer from Aston Villa final week and wore the No26 when he made his debut in opposition to Brighton.
The 34-year-old’s arrival led to Robert Sanchez’s departure from the membership with the Spaniard becoming a member of Como in a mortgage transfer on deadline day.
Chelsea have now confirmed Martinez has opted to take up the No1 shirt beforehand worn by Sanchez.
‘Our summer season signing initially took the No.26 shirt for the Blues and wore it in our 4-3 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge,’ Chelsea mentioned.
‘Nonetheless, attributable to Robert Sanchez’s mortgage transfer to Como, the No.1 shirt has since grow to be vacant and our Argentinian worldwide has opted to take that quantity.
Emi Martinez has opted to modify shirt numbers to grow to be Chelsea’s new No.1
Martinez had worn the No26 shirt when he made his Chelsea debut in opposition to Brighton
‘In recognition of the change, and people impacted, Emi has kindly provided to signal all ‘Martinez 26’ shirts that had been obtained through the official Membership Megastore or official Membership web site.
‘With the intention to prepare this, supporters might be required to deliver this shirt to Stamford Bridge together with proof of buy by October 4.’
Martinez’s resolution to modify comes regardless of Chelsea’s legendary former captain John Terry giving him his blessing to put on the No26 he had worn throughout his Blues profession.
The Argentine had declared he was going to put on Terry’s squad quantity ‘with pleasure’.
‘I keep in mind utilizing the 26 on mortgage a couple of occasions with earlier golf equipment, and naturally I knew John Terry famously had the 26 right here,’ Martinez mentioned.
‘John was somebody I spoke to earlier than I joined, and he mentioned he was over the moon to have me right here.
‘From our time collectively at Aston Villa, he is aware of how exhausting I work and what I can deliver to Chelsea.
‘The morning I signed, I texted him and mentioned, “I am sporting your shirt, and I’ll do it with pleasure”.’
Terry had lauded the signing of Martinez final week as he confirmed he had given him the blessing to put on No26.
Former Chelsea captain John Terry had given Martinez his blessing final week to put on No.26
‘Emi Martinez coming within the constructing, I feel he needs to be the signing of the summer season. What a world class goalkeeper he’s,’ Terry mentioned.
‘If I had the selection of any goalkeeper on the earth by way of goalkeeper, he could be proper on the very prime for me.
‘We signed him at Aston Villa from Arsenal and he was unbelievable, the arrogance he reveals, the way in which he trains, the affect he had on a bunch of gamers, the mindset is unbelievable.
‘He’s somebody who desires to win day-after-day, hates conceding objectives in coaching, loves conserving clear sheets. Every part about this man, belief me, is prime, prime.
‘He’s taking the 26 shirt, sure, we’ve given the inexperienced mild, you may take the 26 shirt. You recognize why, as a result of he loves conserving clear sheets as a lot as I did after I wore the 26 shirt. Hopefully that serves him properly, what a keeper, what a participant.’
Since Terry’s retirement, Kalidou Koulibaly and Levi Colwill have each worn his former shirt quantity.
Colwill wore the shirt for one season earlier than opting to modify to No6.
