Martinez is eighth Chelsea-Villa deal in four years

Chelsea has signed Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa for £7.5 million, marking the eighth transfer between the two clubs in the past four years. The 33-year-old, who was part of Argentina's World Cup-winning team in 2022, will join the Premier League champions on a three-year contract. Former Arsenal goalkeeper Martinez made 256 appearances for Villa during his time there, including their Europa League triumph last season.

In his statement, Martinez expressed his excitement about joining Chelsea, stating that the move was an easy decision for him and his family. He emphasized his desire to succeed at the club, which has a track record of winning titles. Martinez's transfer follows Nicolas Jackson's move in the opposite direction last week. The frequency of player exchanges between Chelsea and Villa is unprecedented in the Premier League within the last four years, with no two clubs swapping more players, either permanently or on loan.

Chelsea's ownership, BlueCo, took charge of the club in 2022 and signed Chukwuemeka Carney from Villa for £20 million. Since then, Ian Maatsen, Omari Kellyman and Axel Disasi have also changed clubs between the two teams. This summer alone, four more transfers have taken place, including Morgan Rogers joining Chelsea for £117 million and Alejandro Garnacho moving to Villa on loan with the option to buy for around £43 million.

Nicolas Jackson's departure to Villa for £65 million preceded Martinez's arrival. In total, Chelsea has paid Aston Villa £163.5 million for players since 2022, while Villa have spent £102.5 million on Chelsea players, including Axel Disasi's loan fee. This expenditure could rise to £150.5 million if certain conditions are met for Garnacho's loan move to become permanent.

The frequency of transfers between Chelsea and Villa has drawn attention from other clubs in the Premier League, who have raised concerns about the clubs' adherence to domestic and European financial regulations. However, there is no evidence to suggest that either club has breached any rules.