Joao Pedro stars as Chelsea edge Brighton 4-3 in Martinez debut

Chelsea Football Club has signed goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa on a three-year contract, the London-based club announced on Sunday. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but sources close to the club reported that Chelsea paid approximately £7.5 million (US$10.15 million) to bring the 33-year-old Argentine to the west London side.

In a statement to the press, Martinez expressed his excitement about joining Chelsea, stating, "I want to be successful here. I'm someone who wants to win at everything I do, and I want to bring that here to this football club, which has a history of winning titles. I think it's a good match."

Martinez's departure from Aston Villa follows the club's acquisition of Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma earlier this month, which cleared the way for Martinez's exit after six years at Villa Park. During his time with Villa, Martinez made 256 appearances, becoming one of the Premier League's top goalkeepers. He played a crucial role in the team's fourth-place finish in the 2023-24 season, securing a Champions League qualification and a Europa League title.

At Chelsea, Martinez will compete with Robert Sanchez for the starting goalkeeper position. Sanchez, who joined the club from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023, has been the first-choice keeper since then, but recent errors in a Champions League opener against Fulham have sparked questions about his place in the starting lineup. Martinez has also been instrumental in Argentina's success on the international stage, including their 2022 FIFA World Cup victory and a runners-up finish in the 2026 Copa America. He also claimed Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.

The signing of Martinez further illustrates a busy transfer window for Villa, with other notable departures including Morgan Rogers, who joined Chelsea in a British record fee, Youri Tielemans, who moved to Manchester United, and Jadon Sancho, Douglas Luiz, and Lucas Digne, who have all left the club.