Emiliano Martínez claims Chelsea's No. 1 shirt after Robert Sánchez's exit

The number was calling his name. Once Robert Sánchez left on loan for Como in Italy, a jersey freed up at Chelsea that isn't just any jersey: the No. 1. And the man who claimed it was, of course, Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez, the World Cup winning goalkeeper with the Argentina national team who had arrived at the London club wearing No. 26.

The switch is now official. Dibu leaves behind the number he wore when he was first presented as a "Blue," and moves into the historic shirt that in English soccer is usually set aside for the top starting goalkeeper. That's no small thing for a player who built much of his career saving decisive penalties and standing tall in the goal at defining moments.

The interesting part is that the club itself broke the news with a simple, direct image: Martínez already wearing the No. 1, confirming the switch from one number to the other. Chelsea announced it through its official account, marking the start of a new numerical identity for the goalkeeper within the squad.

A gesture for fans who already had the No. 26

Beyond the shirt number itself, one detail struck a chord with fans: supporters who had already bought Martínez's jersey with No. 26 won't be left with that now "outdated" shirt hanging in the closet. They'll be able to bring it to Stamford Bridge and have the goalkeeper sign it in person, a gesture that softens any frustration over having bought a shirt that became outdated just weeks after they picked it up.

It makes sense that the club handled it this way. After all, it's nobody's fault that Sánchez went out on loan right when so many fans had already lined up to get the jersey of the newly arrived Argentine signing.

Now, with the No. 1 on his back, Martínez begins a new chapter in England. He arrives with the prestige of having been a standout figure at Qatar 2022 and having established himself as one of the most decisive goalkeepers of recent times, and the number he now wears usually comes with the responsibility of being the team's first choice goalkeeper. At Chelsea, they know what that shirt represents: it was worn by names who defined eras between the posts, and now it's Dibu's turn to write his own chapter with that number on his shoulders.