Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has completed a £7.5 million transfer to Chelsea. The 33-year-old Argentina international signed a three-year contract with the London club on Tuesday, as reported by The Guardian Football.
Martínez had been seeking a move away from Villa Park for the last two summers. His departure follows the club's Europa League triumph in May and comes as Unai Emery's side sits 17th in the Premier League after one game, having lost their opener and conceded four goals without scoring. The team is already six points behind leaders Manchester City ahead of their next match against Arsenal, a fixture you can view on our fixtures page.
Why did Martínez want to leave Aston Villa?
Emiliano Martínez joined Aston Villa from Arsenal in 2020 and his stock rose dramatically during his six years at the club. He earned his first international caps while at Villa and became a global star, winning the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles with Argentina. Individually, he claimed the Yashin Trophy as the world's best goalkeeper in both 2023 and 2024 and won The Best FIFA Football award twice. Despite this success, he attempted to force a move last summer and a potential switch to Juventus collapsed earlier this month before Chelsea secured his signature.
The transfer fee of £7.5 million brings an end to a prolonged exit saga.
What does his departure mean for Aston Villa?
Martínez's exit is the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the West Midlands club this summer. Defender Ezri Konsa, midfielder Morgan Rogers, and winger Lucas Digne have all left, while midfielder Youri Tielemans departed on a free transfer. Striker Ollie Watkins is also reportedly set to leave, adding to the significant turnover in the squad. The club's current injuries list already includes several key players, making this a period of major transition for the European champions.
Where does Martínez fit in at Chelsea?
The experienced goalkeeper is expected to immediately become Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper, displacing current number one Robert Sánchez. Martínez expressed his excitement about the new challenge. "I’m delighted to be at this football club," he said. "Coming to Chelsea, for me and my family, was an easy decision to make and I’m just over the moon." He also promised full commitment to his new club. "I’m all passion and I play with my heart," Martínez added. "I will give 100% every game, every training session to make the club, my teammates and the supporters proud."
How does this affect Villa's season start?
Villa's difficult start to the campaign, with zero points and a minus four goal difference, is now compounded by losing their World Cup-winning goalkeeper. The team faces a quick turnaround with a home match against Arsenal next. Replacing a player of Martínez's caliber and leadership will be a significant task for Emery. Fans can track the team's league position on our standings page as they look to stabilize after a summer of considerable change. The focus now shifts to who will take the number one shirt for Villa's crucial upcoming fixtures.
