Chelsea FC finalizes permanent transfer of Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa

Chelsea has completed the signing of Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa for a fee of £7.5 million, bringing the 33-year-old back to London six years after he left Arsenal for the Midlands. Martinez is expected to sign a two-year contract at Stamford Bridge with an option for a further year, pending a successful medical. For a goalkeeper who helped Argentina lift the World Cup in 2022 and played a central role in Aston Villa’s recent Europa League triumph, that fee looks like a bargain bin find at a luxury store. Context matters, though: Martinez is 33, recently had a move to Juventus fall apart over concerns about a finger injury, and Villa were clearly ready to move on. Why Chelsea moved now The timing of this deal traces back to Chelsea’s 3-2 Premier League win over Fulham on August 25, 2026. A win is a win, but starting goalkeeper Robert Sanchez reportedly had a performance that left the coaching staff reaching for the transfer phone rather than the congratulations. Martinez brings 256 appearances worth of Premier League knowledge from his time at Villa Park, plus 67 caps for Argentina. Martinez’s journey from Arsenal reject to World Cup hero Martinez’s care...