Chelsea have completed the signing of Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa, with the Argentina international agreeing a three-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
The 33-year-old arrives after six seasons at Villa, where he established himself as one of the Premier League’s leading goalkeepers and helped the club win the Europa League last season. He made 256 appearances after joining from Arsenal in 2020.
Martinez is expected to challenge for, and potentially take, the No 1 spot following renewed scrutiny of Robert Sanchez. The Spain goalkeeper was criticised after making an error in Chelsea’s 3-2 victory over Fulham on Monday.
“I’m delighted to be at this football club,” Martinez said. “Coming to Chelsea, for me and my family, was an easy decision to make and I’m just over the moon – I can’t wait to get started.
“I want to be successful here. I’m someone who wants to win at everything I do and I want to bring that here to this football club because it’s a football club that wins titles, so I think it’s a good match.”
The move reunites Martinez with a club that has done plenty of business with Villa in recent years. It is the eighth transfer or loan between the two sides in four years, with the relationship intensifying since Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, took control in 2022.
Morgan Rogers’ move to Chelsea, Alejandro Garnacho’s loan to Villa and Nicolas Jackson’s transfer to Villa have all taken place in this transfer window.
Chelsea have now paid Villa 163.5 million pounds for players since 2022, while Villa have spent 102.5 million pounds on Chelsea players, including Disasi’s loan fee. That figure could reach 150.5 million pounds if certain conditions in Garnacho’s deal are met.
Martinez leaves Villa after winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, two Copa America titles and successive Yashin Trophies in 2023 and 2024.
Villa had been looking to move the goalkeeper on after signing Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma for almost 30 million pounds. A potential switch to Juventus also collapsed earlier this month.
“I’m all passion and I play with my heart,” Martinez added. “I will give 100 per cent every game, every training session to make the club, my team-mates and the supporters proud.”
Martinez’s arrival comes ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League meeting with Brighton on Sunday.
