Emi Martinez before an Aston Villa game
Emi Martinez(Image: Ben Whitley/PA Wire)
Emi Martinez says it was an easy decision to join Chelsea in the final days of the summer transfer window, but insists he will always love Aston Villa.
The 33-year-old lost his place as Villa’s No. 1 to Zion Suzuki, with the club signing the Japan international to replace Martinez, who had expressed his desire to embark on a new challenge for a second successive summer.
After Manchester United opted to sign Senne Lammens instead of Martinez 12 months ago, he stayed at Villa for the rest of the season and helped the club win the Europa League in May.
That proved to be the last of his 255 games for Villa, bringing an end to his six-year spell at the club following his move from Arsenal in the summer of 2020.
“I’m delighted to be at this football club,” Martinez said about his move. “Coming to Chelsea, for me and my family, was an easy decision to make and I’m just over the moon - I can’t wait to get started.
“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 because it’s a football club that wins titles, so I think it’s a good match.
“It was very easy for me to join Chelsea. Obviously, I’ve been at Villa for many years - a club that I love, and will always love, but coming to Chelsea, for me and my family, it was a decision that was easy in the end and I want to be successful.
“I’m all passion and I play with my heart. I will give 100 per cent every game, every training session to make the club, my teammates and the supporters proud.”