Photo: Sarah Engelhardt / Pexels
Emiliano Martinez aims to win Premier League with Chelsea after completing £7.5M move
The World Cup-winning goalkeeper signed a three-year deal after Aston Villa's acquisition of Zion Suzuki made his departure all but inevitable.
Emiliano Martinez has a trophy cabinet most goalkeepers would trade a kidney for. A World Cup winner’s medal, multiple Copa América titles, two Yashin Trophies, and a Europa League crown. Now 33, the Argentine shot-stopper wants to add something he’s never had: a Premier League title. And he’s betting on Chelsea to get him there.
The Blues confirmed Martinez’s arrival from Aston Villa on August 30, 2026, in a deal worth £7.5 million. He signed a three-year contract, though some reports suggest the structure is closer to two years with an option for a third.
Why Chelsea moved fast
Chelsea opened their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a 3-2 defeat to Fulham, a result that put immediate pressure on their goalkeeping situation. Robert Sánchez, the incumbent No. 1, drew criticism for his performance in that loss. The Martinez signing is a direct response to that vulnerability.
Martinez brings 256 appearances worth of Villa Park experience, plus the kind of big-game composure you can’t coach into someone.
The Villa side of the equation
Martinez’s departure wasn’t born purely from Chelsea’s ambition. Aston Villa had already moved to sign Japan international Zion Suzuki, a deal that effectively signaled the club’s willingness to transition in goal. Martinez, reading the room, saw his role at Villa Park shrinking.
The news moving money, markets, and the world—before your day starts.
Daily. Free. Join 34,000+ readers across crypto, finance, and policy.
He joined from Arsenal back in 2020. Those 256 appearances included Villa’s run to the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League title, a competition where his performances were central to the club’s success.
What Martinez brings to Stamford Bridge
Martinez has spoken about his commitment to winning 100% in every game and training session.
His World Cup heroics in Qatar in 2022, where Argentina beat France in what many consider the greatest final ever played, established him as one of the most clutch goalkeepers in modern football. The two Yashin Trophies, awarded to the world’s best goalkeeper, confirmed it wasn’t a one-tournament wonder.
His immediate challenge will be competing with Sánchez for the starting spot. Martinez could make his Chelsea debut as early as the upcoming match against Brighton.
The £7.5 million fee also stands out for its restraint. In a market where clubs routinely spend ten times that amount on players with a fraction of Martinez’s resume, Chelsea appear to have found genuine value.