Chelsea have reached an agreement with Aston Villa for the permanent transfer of Argentine international goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to Stamford Bridge this summer, as per David Ornstein.
Robert Sanchez has been Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper for most of the last four seasons. He has largely come under scrutiny for his knack for goal-costing errors and has regularly appeared on the list of the most error-prone goalkeepers.
Ahead of Chelsea’s 3-2 matchday 1 win against Fulham, there was an expectation of a clean slate under new coach Xabi Alonso, much like Liam Rosenior did when he arrived as interim boss in January.
However, the Spanish goalkeeper has not justified the decision to remain the Blues’ number one and was largely at fault for both Fulham goals. He was first beaten at the near post by Josh King and also spilt an effort into the path of an unmarked Gonzalo García, who tapped the ball into the net.
Sanchez’s howlers appear to have forced the club to explore more reliable options, with reports in recent days revealing Chelsea’s interest in Villa’s Martinez.
A deal has now been struck as David Ornstein claims that Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign the Argentine international goalkeeper this summer.
Martinez to Chelsea
Upon the finalisation of his medical, Ornstein adds that the 33-year-old is set to sign a two-year contract at Stamford Bridge with an option for another year with the London giants, who have paid £7.5m to Villa.
Described as ‘world class’ by Sky Sports‘ Dan Bardell, Martínez has firmly established himself among the world’s elite goalkeepers over the past four years, becoming the first player to win the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award twice after claiming the honour in 2022 and 2024.
Argentina have also benefited enormously from his outstanding form, with his performances helping the Albiceleste dominate both South America and the global stage, including back-to-back World Cup final appearances. At club level, his exceptional shot-stopping has been equally important to Aston Villa’s progress under Unai Emery, with the English side reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals during the 2024-25 season.
For Chelsea, the 6ft 5in goalkeeper would bring valuable Premier League experience, a proven track record at the highest level and the mentality of a World Cup-winning goalkeeper.
Although Martinez’s composure on the ball is not his greatest strength, his consistent shot-stopping ability between the posts is what Chelsea need, making him a significant upgrade on Robert Sánchez.
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