# Chelsea Villa Set to Sign Villa Keeper Martínez in £7.5M Deal URL: https://technosports.co.in/chelsea-villa-keeper-deal/ Published: 2026-08-28 Updated: 2026-08-28 Author: Sudeshna Ghosh Chelsea have agreed to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper [Emiliano Martínez](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Mart%C3%ADnez) for £7.5 million ($10.2 million), according to an ESPN report by James Olley published on August 27, 2026. The 33-year-old Argentina international is set for a two-year contract at [Stamford Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamford_Bridge), ending a six-year spell at Villa Park. ## Chelsea Villa: Deal Terms and Timeline ESPN reports the move would install Martínez as Chelsea’s No. 1 goalkeeper. Representatives offered the keeper to Chelsea earlier in the week, and negotiations accelerated quickly. ![Chelsea Villa Set to Sign Villa Keeper Martínez in £7.5M Deal](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1000215533.jpg) The **£7.5 million** figure converts to roughly $10.2 million at current rates. A separate ESPN report on August 26, 2026 said Chelsea were considering replacing Robert Sánchez after criticism following a 4-0 defeat to Brighton on the Premier League’s opening weekend. Two days later, Martínez is poised to walk through the door Sánchez could soon exit. ## Why Sánchez Is on Thin Ice The Brighton loss exposed structural problems. Chelsea Villa shipped four goals, and Sánchez’s post-match comments drew the kind of public scrutiny that usually precedes a benching. Chelsea identified Martínez as a Premier League-proven replacement. Martínez brings set-piece command, penalty-area authority, and a winning temperament that Chelsea’s current options lack. At 33, the goalkeeper offers short-term reliability rather than a multi-year rebuild project. For a club chasing immediate silverware, that profile fits the bill. ## The Juventus Chapter That Wasn’t A move to Juventus fell through earlier in August, according to ESPN. The collapse left Martínez available when Chelsea came calling, and his representatives seized the opening. Villa, meanwhile, lose a long-serving starter and must now source a replacement before the September 1 deadline. The speed of the turnaround suggests Chelsea Villa’s recruitment team identified the goalkeeper position as a priority after the Brighton humbling and moved before competitors circled. The two-year contract length also signals a short-term fix rather than a long-term succession plan. ## What Happens Next for Chelsea and Villa Chelsea must finalise personal terms, complete a medical, and register Martínez before the window closes. The club’s [sporting](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football) directors will also decide whether to retain Sánchez as backup or find a buyer for the Spaniard. Villa, already light in goal, face their own scramble to fill the void. **Chelsea Villa transfer lands at £7.5M — a low-risk No. 1 swap designed to steady the ship after Brighton’s 4-0 wake-up call.** Martínez’s arrival would mark the most experienced keeper to join Chelsea since the Petr Cech era, and Stamford Bridge expects results from matchday two onward. ### How much are Chelsea paying for Martínez? Chelsea agreed a £7.5 million ($10.2 million) fee with Aston Villa, per ESPN’s James Olley. For more detail, see [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.com/sport). ### What contract length did Chelsea offer Martínez? The Argentina goalkeeper would sign a two-year deal at Stamford Bridge, according to the same report. ### Why are Chelsea replacing Robert Sánchez? ESPN reported on August 26, 2026 that Chelsea were weighing options after Sánchez faced criticism following the 4-0 defeat to Brighton on the Premier League’s opening weekend. ### Was Martínez close to joining another club? Yes. A separate ESPN report said a deal to send Martínez to Juventus collapsed earlier in August, leaving the door open for Chelsea. ### How long was Martínez at Aston Villa? The move would end a six-year stay at Villa Park, where he became one of the Premier League’s [most](https://technosports.co.in/real-madrid-most-valuable-football-club-brand/) recognisable keepers. Looking ahead, all eyes shift to Stamford Bridge’s medical suite and the final registration paperwork before the September 1 transfer deadline. ## Related Articles - - -