Maxence Lacroix's Chelsea Move: Will Terry Approve His Preferred Shirt?

Incoming Chelsea defender, Maxence Lacroix, reportedly has his sights set on the iconic number 26 jersey at Stamford Bridge, but may need the express permission of Blues legend John Terry to wear it. The 26-year-old French international is poised to become the third senior acquisition under Xabi Alonso's management, following the earlier arrivals of Marco Palestra and Morgan Rogers.

While the club's sporting hierarchy finalises the transfer paperwork, pushing the window's total expenditure beyond £200 million, manager Xabi Alonso is focused on ensuring Lacroix receives a warm welcome. The France international could be presented with the opportunity to wear the significant number 26 shirt, famously worn by Terry throughout his illustrious career.

Lacroix previously wore number four at Wolfsburg and number five at Crystal Palace. However, at Chelsea, these numbers are currently occupied by Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile, respectively. With other available numbers below 30 including 13, 16, 18, and 22 – none of which Lacroix has officially worn – the number 26 emerges as the most viable option for the defender. He prominently wore this number for his country during the World Cup, where he featured in three matches, and also in international friendlies preceding the tournament earlier in the year.

If Lacroix intends to continue with the number 26, he might need to contact John Terry directly, much like Kalidou Koulibaly did upon his transfer to Chelsea from Napoli in July 2022. During his inaugural press conference as a Blues player, Koulibaly emphasised his desire to show respect to a club icon.

Koulibaly recounted his experience: "I wanted to know which number was free, and speaking with the team manager, he told me some numbers, and he didn’t tell me 26. He said John left it in 2017 and nobody took it from this time. I was asking if it was retired or nobody wanted to take it, so I asked Gianfranco Zola, who I know very well, and asked him for John’s number. I called him, and at the beginning he didn’t believe it was me; he believed it was a joke and put down the phone and called first the manager to ask if it was really me.

"After I asked him respectfully that I wanted to take his number. I know it’s very important for him, and for me it’s also important because I took it directly when I went to Napoli and wanted to keep it here at Chelsea. When he said yes, I was really happy because I know what he did for the club, I know what he did for the supporters, for the city here, and I know it’s very important to ask him first to wear it. He gave me his answer, and I was happy, and I wanted to tell people I asked him because I want to be respectful to the legend of the club."

Levi Colwill subsequently took the number 26 shirt the following year. In an interview with The Athletic, the Cobham academy graduate, who now sports the number six, clarified his reasons for choosing the iconic jersey. "Everyone is saying it’s because of John, but it’s because that’s the date of my birthday (Colwill was born on February 26, 2003)," Colwill stated. "It was my number when I was growing up, even if I was just playing a football game on PlayStation. When Huddersfield told me I was going to get the number 26 shirt, it was perfect. Obviously, all the Chelsea fans started comparing me to John Terry. Have I thought about changing it because of that? No."

Colwill further added: "I’ll take it. I’m not going to complain. It’s not a bad thing to be called the new John Terry. I haven’t made the comparison myself, so the fans and media can make whatever comparisons they want to make; it isn’t going to affect me. John Terry is a club legend and leader, someone every centre-back at Chelsea should look up to. A great guy and player. I’ve not had the chance to speak to him too much. When he was around the academy building, we’d have the odd little chat, but it’d be more of a ‘Hi, how are you?’ kind of thing, not on a personal level about football or things like that.’

Meanwhile, Chelsea has unveiled its new away kit for the 2026/27 season, described as a tribute to the club's 'Italian Renaissance'. The design features a black base with gold trim, commemorating their transformative era in the 1990s.