Chelsea just made a late-window splash that could reshape their season. The Blues have agreed a £7.5m fee with Aston Villa for goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, with the Argentina World Cup winner set to undergo a medical in London.
A shock move for the World Cup winner
Martinez, who won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, has been pushed to second choice at Villa Park after the club signed Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for about £30m. The 33-year-old was also a target for Juventus, but that deal collapsed over concerns about a finger injury.
Why Chelsea moved for Martinez
The move is a response to questions over Robert Sanchez, Chelsea’s first-choice keeper since 2023, who was at fault in Monday’s 3-2 win over Fulham. Adding Martinez would give new coach Xabi Alonso a proven, battle-tested No 1, though it raises questions about whether the Blues need three senior keepers while not in European competition this season.
Another chapter in the Chelsea-Villa pipeline
The clubs have done plenty of business this window. Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers from Villa for a club-record £117m, while Alejandro Garnacho moved to Villa on loan. Striker Nicolas Jackson was also completing a medical at Villa Park as part of the flurry.
| Player | Move |
|---|---|
| Emiliano Martinez | Villa to Chelsea, £7.5m |
| Morgan Rogers | Villa to Chelsea, £117m |
| Alejandro Garnacho | Chelsea to Villa, loan |
| Nicolas Jackson | Chelsea to Villa, ~£65m |
European football is in full swing after this summer’s biggest transfer moves, including Liverpool’s top-of-the-table statement in La Liga. The Premier League transfer window closes soon, so expect more dominoes to fall.
