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Koulibaly picks a Legendary Shirt number at Chelsea

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Chelsea have revealed that Kalidou Koulibaly will wear shirt number 26 for the Blues.

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Credit: Gettyimage

The Senegalese ace defender, Koulibaly joined the Premier League club from Serie A side, Napoli, in a £34 million ($41 million) deal as Thomas Tuchel looks to reinforce his defense following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.

As the London club continues to prepare for the start of the new season, they have confirmed the shirt number that both the African and Raheem Sterling will be wearing – albeit only for pre-season. These shirt numbers are subjected to change after the pre-season matches.

koulibaly
Credit: Gettyimage

“We can confirm the pre-season shirt numbers for our two new signings and a chance for another player ahead of our next match on the United States tour,” the club said in a statement.
Raheem Sterling will wear the  number 17 shirt in these warm-up games, while Kalidou Koulibaly will wear the number 26.”
Conor Gallagher, who wore 38 in our weekend victory over Club America, has switched to number 15.
“Please keep in mind that these pre-season numbers are not yet confirmed for the upcoming season.” as confirmed by our reporter Femi Olawole.

Kalidou Koulibaly Jersey Number

Other Chelsea players who’ve already worn this iconic jersey number include England legend John Terry, Laurent Charvet, Neil Clement, Michael Duberry, and Andy Dow.
Tuchel stated in a brief interview that he hopes the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations winner demonstrates his efficiency as soon as possible and that the presence of Edouard Mendy and Jorginho will help him settle quickly.
“He brings experience, best defensive quality, height, and everything we’re looking for in a back-three or back-four,” the German told Chelsea’s official website.

“It’s another fantastic signing for us, and we hope Kalidou Koulibaly can demonstrate his talent as soon as possible.” Some of the players are familiar to him. He plays for his country alongside Edouard Mendy and for Napoli alongside Jorginho.
“I believe he will quickly feel at ease in the group on this side. It’s a nice group, and everyone is glad he’s here now.”
When the two-time Champions League champions face Charlotte on July 21, Koulibaly is set to make his debut.

The No.26 jersey worn by John Terry all through his legendary career at Chelsea is arguably the most legendary in the pantheon of Chelsea shirts. And, although not officially “retired,” it was never expected to be allotted again, much like Gianfranco Zola’s No.25 — the numbers being far above the normal range of football jersey numbers only made that more likely. That would be much more difficult with Frank Lampard’s No.8.

Kalidou Koulibaly Shirt number History

In any case, there is a new signing. Kalidou Koulibaly has also worn No.26 for much of his career, and given that he’s been one of the best in the world at his position for much of that time, his arrival begged the inevitable question of whether he’d take JT’s old number.

Furthermore, this is only a “temporary” assignment, valid for the time being only for preseason. The Premier League will not receive official squad lists until after the transfer window closes, so the number could change before then. But it’s a strong indication that K2 will purchase our new No.26!

In other news, Raheem Sterling has taken (at least temporarily) the No.17 shirt, which was previously worn by Mateo Kovacic (before he switched to No.8) and then Saul Niguez. Eden Hazard wore No.17 for a couple of seasons before switching to No.10.
Conor Gallagher has dropped the No.38 from Saturday’s game in favor of the No.15, which was left unassigned after Kurt Zouma’s departure last season.

Kalidou Koulibaly Age

The ace defender was born on June 20, 1991, and is currently 31 years old. During his time at Napoli, he never played less effectively as a result of his age and as such will be a good addition to Tuchel’s team.

Koulibaly serves as a replacement for Antonio Rudiger who exited the club this summer and joined Real Madrid in search of new opportunities.

These are the temporal shirt number allocation for the preseason, if any changes are made we will notify you on this platform.

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English Premier League

Rangers Youngster Sets Celtic Fans Alight with Bold Celebration in Epic Kilmarnock Moment

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 Rangers Youngster Sets Celtic Fans Alight with Bold Celebration in Epic Kilmarnock Moment!

In a Scottish Premiership clash that had fans on the edge of their seats, Rangers’ loanee Findlay Curtis turned heads with a cheeky celebration that has since gone viral online. The 19-year-old, on loan at Kilmarnock, was at the heart of the drama as his side surged into an early lead against fierce rivals Celtic at Rugby Park — and he didn’t hold back in celebrating it.

 

Curtis, deployed in a more advanced role for this fixture, made the most of his opportunity. After Tyreece John-Jules opened the scoring and Kilmarnock doubled their advantage, cameras caught the young winger raising his arms and gesturing in celebration directly in front of the Celtic supporters in the away end — a moment that instantly lit up social media.

 

Although his exuberant celebration was quickly cut short when veteran keeper Kasper Schmeichel ushered him away, the damage was done — pundits and fans alike have been talking about it ever since. That kind of on-field bravado in front of the rival support doesn’t happen every day, and it’s one that will stick in the minds of supporters on both sides.

Whether you see it as passionate football emotion or a bit of mind games, Curtis’ reaction added another unforgettable moment to a season already packed with drama and rivalry — showing once again why the Scottish Premiership never fails to entertain.

 

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English Premier League

End of the Road at Parkhead? Andy Walker Drops Brutal Verdict on Celtic’s Japanese Duo

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“Are Celtic’s Japanese Stars Past Their Best? Andy Walker Predicts End of the Road for Maeda & Hatate”

Recent pundit commentary has stirred fresh debate among fans of Celtic Football Club, with veteran analyst Andy Walker making bold claims about two of the team’s key Japanese players — Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate. Walker’s verdict? This could be the final chapter at Parkhead for both players if they don’t turn their seasons around.

Struggles on the Pitch

Walker’s view stems from both men’s current dip in form. Hatate, normally a creative midfield presence, was recently scrutinised after a costly mistake led to a penalty for Livingston — and Walker suggested it might be time for him to lose his place temporarily in the starting XI to find confidence again.

Meanwhile, Maeda — who once electrified Scottish football with blistering pace and a PFA Player of the Year-winning season — has yet to recapture that spark this campaign. The forward is playing well below the high standards he set previously, and Walker believes both he and Hatate may have run their course at Celtic unless they rediscover their best form before the season ends.

Why This Matters

Walker’s assessment resonates beyond just match performance:

  • Maeda’s Blocked Transfer: Earlier in the season, Maeda openly admitted he wanted a move away — only for Celtic to block it — and pundits speculated this block may have affected his focus and sharpness.
  • Legacy and Timing: If both players fail to make a strong impact before the campaign’s conclusion, Walker argues their legacies at Celtic could be overshadowed by disappointment rather than remembered for their earlier success.

 The Bigger Picture

Celtic’s squad is at a crossroads. With new tactics, fresh faces and evolving expectations under manager Brendan Rodgers, long-serving players must justify their place or risk being phased out. Walker’s blunt but insightful commentary has sparked fresh debate among supporters over who should lead the club forward — and who’s time might be running out.

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English Premier League

Adrie van der Poel deelt verontrustend bericht over Mathieu

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Wout van Aert kende een dramatische afloop aan de cross in Mol, maar ook Mathieu van der Poel kwam niet ongeschonden uit deze wedstrijd. De Nederlander had het bijzonder koud, en kwam zelf eerder ook ten val. Vader Adrie zag daar een probleem.

 

Valpartij had invloed

Nochtans maakte Van der Poel duidelijk dat hij geen schade heeft overgehouden aan zijn tuimeling: “Eigenlijk viel ik zelfs nog zacht”, aldus de Nederlander. “Ik kreeg gewoon mijn voet niet uit mijn klikpedaal in het zand, waardoor ik stomweg omviel. Maar ik heb er gelukkig geen last van.”

 

Zo zag vader Adrie het echter niet tijdens de wedstrijd. In een interview met Sporza stelde hij immers dat Van der Poel last ondervond van zijn eerdere valpartij, eerder nog dan van de koude. Al voegde Adrie er ook wel aan toe dat zijn zoon niet bepaald staat te springen voor een koers in de sneeuw.

 

Van der Poel viseert enkel de koude

Reken daarbij nog de haast ondragelijke koude, en we kregen een verkleumde Van der Poel te zien na de finish. In zijn interviews achteraf stond hij nog steeds te bibberen, en maakte de wereldkampioen duidelijk dat hij behoorlijk hard had afgezien.

 

“Het was geen aangename cross. Ik heb het nu al een beetje warmer, maar ik heb zeker veel koud geleden vandaag”, luidde het bij MVDP. “Je weet ook dat wanneer je nadien weer opwarmt, het vijf minuten echt veel pijn gaat doen. Met dat gevoel was ik de laatste rondes al bezig.”

 

Voor Van der Poel was de conclusie dan ook duidelijk: “Dit was de moeilijkste wedstrijd van het jaar. Na een tijd hadden mijn handen en voeten zo veel koud dat het niet meer vanzelf ging.” Nu maar hopen dat vader Adrie toch geen gelijk krijgt over een mogelijke blessure, die door onderkoeling mogelijk onder de radar zou zijn gebleven.

 

https://x.com/cyclingontnt/status/2007112931780317689?s=20

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