Emi Martinez (Argentina)
Rodrigo Valle via Reuters
Chelsea have agreed on a deal with Aston Villa to sign veteran goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and he looks set to become Xabi Alonso's new number one.
David Ornstein of The Athletic reports that the Blues have reached an agreement with Villa to sign Martinez for £7.5 million. The Argentine is set to sign a two-year deal with the option of a further year.
Martinez's future has been in doubt throughout the summer, and Serie A giants Juventus were interested. The 33-year-old missed out on a move to Turin after the Old Lady decided to turn to Tottenham Hotspur's Vicario.
Chelsea Agree Emi Martinez Deal
Emi Martinez Argentina
Emi Martinez Argentina
Villa have been willing to sell Martinez after signing Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma as Unai Emery's new first-choice goalkeeper. With the clock ticking down towards deadline day, the Villans were looking to find a resolution for their Europa League-winning shot-stopper.
Martinez is headed to Stamford Bridge, where he'll be battling it out with Robert Sanchez to earn the number one spot in Alonso's team. The Spanish goalkeeper's mistake-prone outing in a 3-2 win over Fulham has led to BlueCo opting to back their new manager with a new shot-stopper.
The transfer brings to an end Martinez's six-year spell at Villa Park, having joined the club from Arsenal back in 2020. He's made 256 appearances, helping the West Midlands wn the Europa League and qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea Have Been Crying Out For A New Number One
Robert Sanchez in action for Chelsea
Robert Sanchez in action for Chelsea
Watching Chelsea persist with Sanchez has been a huge surprise for many throughout BlueCo's ownership. The former Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper has endured shaky form since arriving at Stamford Bridge, but up until now, the Blues have resisted signing a worthy replacement.
Martinez is a divisive character but an excellent shot-stopper with much-needed experience for club and country. He played a hugely important role in Argentina's World Cup triumph back in 2022 and remained the first choice during this summer's tournament.
The thinking may be that Alonso works with a more reliable goalie until Belgian youngster Mike Penders is ready to take over. The 21-year-old is a promising goalkeeping talent whom the club views as the future.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts
For Sanchez, it's a setback, given he'll have been eager to retain his place between the sticks at the start of the most exciting managerial appointment made since a change of ownership in May 2022. He now faces an uphill battle to prove he should get the nod over Martinez.