New Chelsea Signing Handed John Terry's Iconic No.26 Shirt After Summer Move

New Chelsea Signing Handed John Terry's Iconic No.26 Shirt After Summer Move

Fred Kennedy
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:07 PM
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  • Kalidou Koulibaly will have the honour of sporting John Terry’s iconic No.26 shirt after his Stamford Bridge
  • However, he will be doing this temporarily during Chelsea’s ongoing pre-season tour of the United States
  • It remains to be seen if the club will hand him the shirt permanently as it was the same one that he wore during his time at Napoli

New Chelsea summer signing Kalidou Koulibaly has been handed John Terry’s iconic shirt after his Stamford Bridge move from Napoli.

His arrival came at a time Thomas Tuchel was desperate to strengthen his backline after the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

Kalidou Koulibaly, Chelsea, John Terry, Napoli, Stamford Bridge, Thomas Tuchel.
Kalidou Koulibaly poses for a portrait as he is unveiled as a Chelsea player in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Chelsea FC.
Source: Getty Images

Metro UK now reports that the Senegal international will have a rare chance of donning Terry’s legendary No.26 shirt for the remainder of the club’s pre-season fixtures.

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While it remains unclear if Koulibaly will get the shirt permanently during his Stamford Bridge spell, Chelsea have already announced the move is temporary.

Terry’s old number has been vacant since he departed from the west London club at the end of the 2016/17 season.

When will Kalidou Koulibaly make his Chelsea bow?

It remains to be seen when Tuchel will hand his newest acquisition his debut at the club.

However, speculation is rife the versatile defender could make his bow when Chelsea take on Charlotte on Thursday morning, July 21.

The same was hinted at by Tuchel in his presser, with the Chelsea boss revealing he will have to speak to Koulibaly first before a decision is made.

"Yeah, we’re a bit torn, and I have to speak to him what we’ll do tomorrow," Tuchel said when asked if Koulibaly will play any role against Charlotte.
"He’s done some training sessions now with us but he’s still on a very individual programme, so no double sessions on the pitch," he added.

Chelsea on verge of landing Sevilla defender Jules Kounde

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Chelsea are reportedly on the verge of signing French defender Jules Kounde from Sevilla this summer.

The Blues are said to have agreed to meet Sevilla’s asking price of £51million for the 23-year-old defender.

Kounde’s move to Stamford Bridge will see him become Chelsea’s third signing of the summer after the arrivals of Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly.

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Fred Kennedy
Fred Kennedy has a Bachelor's degree in journalism (Daystar University), currently working as a Sports Editor. He has more than five years of experience in digital journalism.
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Stamford BridgeThomas Tuchel