Juventus and the camp of Emiliano Martinez have reached a verbal agreement on a three-year contract that would keep the Argentine goalkeeper in Turin until 2029. The deal, reported by Sky Italia and journalist Matteo Moretto, would see Martinez earn approximately €5.5 million net per season, a notable reduction from the €7 million net he currently takes home at Aston Villa.

What we know about the deal

The agreement is described as “in principle,” meaning the personal terms between Juventus and Martinez’s representatives are effectively settled. What remains unresolved is convincing Aston Villa to let one of their most important players walk. Aston Villa has not officially confirmed any involvement in transfer discussions or named a price.

Martinez, widely known as “Dibu,” is a cornerstone of Argentina’s national team setup, having played a pivotal role in their World Cup triumph and Copa America victories.

The reported salary of €5.5M net per season positions Martinez among Juventus’s higher earners but well within the club’s recent wage structure philosophy. Juventus spent the better part of the last several years attempting to untangle a bloated wage bill, so bringing in a marquee signing at a reduced rate compared to his current contract aligns with the financial discipline the club has been preaching.

Why Juventus, why now

Reports from Moretto and Sky Italia indicate that Martinez himself has a strong desire to join Juventus. Prior speculation had linked Martinez with a move to Manchester United in 2025, but this verbal agreement with Juventus marks a new chapter as negotiations progress, potentially involving formal medical examinations and final confirmations from both clubs.

Martinez joined Aston Villa from Arsenal in 2020 and has consistently been a mainstay in the Premier League. Martinez is 33, which gives him a solid three to four years at the highest level, making a contract through 2029 a reasonable bet for Juventus.

What this means for the JUV token and crypto markets

Juventus operates one of the more prominent fan tokens in the sport, the JUV token, available on the Socios.com platform powered by the Chiliz (CHZ) ecosystem. High-profile player transfers have historically correlated with short-term spikes in fan token trading activity. A Martinez signing could also have a ripple effect on the broader Chiliz ecosystem, as renewed interest in one major club token often lifts activity across the platform.

Fan tokens remain a volatile and speculative asset class. Any price movement tied to transfer news tends to be short-lived unless accompanied by sustained on-pitch success.