Chelsea Reach Verbal Agreement to Sign Emiliano Martínez from Aston Villa — £7.5M Permanent Deal

One of the most surprising late-window transfers of the summer is now taking shape. Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with Aston Villa to sign Emiliano Martínez in a £7.5 million transfer, with the Argentina goalkeeper now set to undergo a medical before completing the move.\

How the Deal Came Together

Fabrizio Romano reported that the goalkeeper wanted the move and that negotiations between Chelsea and Villa had progressed rapidly on Thursday.

Dibu gave the green light to Chelsea the day before the clubs agreed on terms, as reported by TeleFootball.

The Chelsea transfer agreement is not yet complete. Martínez must pass his medical and finish the remaining formal steps before the move becomes official.

The Transfer at a Glance

Why Chelsea Needed a New Goalkeeper

Chelsea had initially been prepared to continue with Robert Sánchez as their first-choice goalkeeper, with young goalkeeper Mike Penders also regarded as an important part of the club’s long-term plans. However, Sánchez’s recent performances have increased pressure on Chelsea to strengthen the position.

The agreement comes just days after Chelsea opened the season with a 3-2 win over Fulham, a game in which Robert Sanchez made errors that brought fresh attention to the club’s goalkeeping options.

The veteran shot-stopper is expected to travel to London to finalise the formalities of the move and bolster Xabi Alonso’s defensive options.

The Age Factor

At 33, Martínez is not a long-term solution, but his arrival would give Chelsea an experienced option while allowing young goalkeeper Mike Penders to keep developing.

Chelsea will pay just £7.5m for the 33-year-old — a fee that might look low for a two-time Yashin Trophy winner and one of the most decorated goalkeepers in the game.

Why Villa Are Selling

After a summer in which Aston Villa replaced Martínez with Suzuki, the late transfer could see one of the Premier League’s most experienced goalkeepers make a dramatic switch to Stamford Bridge.

Martínez’s Career — From Arsenal to Villa to Stamford Bridge

Martínez initially served as understudy at Arsenal, being loaned to various clubs before breaking into the starting line-up. In September 2020, Martínez moved to Aston Villa in a transfer worth £20 million.

In his first season at the club, he kept a club-record fifteen clean sheets in the Premier League, and he won the UEFA Europa League in his sixth season.

Emiliano Martínez joined Aston Villa from Arsenal in 2020 and went on to make 256 appearances for the club.

Career Club History

International Pedigree

Martínez remains Argentina’s first-choice goalkeeper. He won the 2022 World Cup and played in Argentina’s 2026 World Cup final defeat to Spain.

Throughout his career, Martínez has won 15 titles, including the Europa League with Aston Villa, Copa America twice with Argentina, the 2022 World Cup, the CONMEBOL/UEFA Finalissima, and multiple FA Cups and Community Shields with Arsenal.

Chelsea’s Summer Activity

The Blues have made 11 signings so far this summer, with Geovany Quenda, Denner, Dastan Satpaev, Emmanuel Emegha, Marco Palestra, Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Danny Welbeck, Valentin Barco, Jordan Henderson and Pep Chavarria all joining.

Chelsea are not done there as they look to build a team capable of providing Xabi Alonso with the tools to win the Premier League.

Read More: Official: Omar Marmoush Joins Tottenham Hotspur on Loan from Manchester City — £60M Buy Obligation, Four-Year Deal

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