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Chelsea have completed the signing of goalkeeper Emi Martinez from Aston Villa.
The Blues announced on Sunday morning that they had finalised the signing of the Argentinian, with Sky Sports claiming that the player has cost Chelsea just £7.5 million.
Martinez, 33, joined Villa from Arsenal back in 2020, having failed to ever establish himself as a regular starter over a long period of time at The Emirates.
The Argentina international had loan spells with Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Wolves, Getafe and Reading during his time with Arsenal, but made just 38 appearances for the Gunners.
After moving to Villa Park, the ‘keeper played 256 times for the Villans in all competitions, keeping 80 clean sheets and conceding 305 goals.
Martinez had been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United last summer, but the switch never materialised.
Martinez has left Villa after six years with the club (Photo: PA/Alamy)
Villa completed the signing of Zion Suzuki from Italian side Parma earlier this month, with the Japan international set to become Villa’s first-choice ‘keeper.
The goalkeeping department has become something of a problem area for Chelsea in recent seasons, with the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Edouard Mendy and Robert Sanchez all making high profile mistakes while the Blues’ number one.
Sanchez was arguably at fault for both of Fulham’s goals in Chelsea’s 3-2 win over their west London rivals in their season opener last week, and the club have now moved to replace the Spaniard.
Mike Penders – who made his debut and kept a clean sheet during Chelsea’s 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Luton Town on Thursday – is in line to start against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Sunday.
Chelsea confirmed that Martinez has signed a three-year contract at Stamford Bridge.