Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa for £7.5m.
The 33-year-old will move to Stamford Bridge on a two-year deal bringing to an end his six-year stay at Villa.
Martinez’s representatives made contact with Chelsea on Wednesday about a possible move and things accelerated quickly to finalise a deal for the goalkeeper, who will likely become the club’s number one.
Villa signed Japan international Zion Suzuki earlier in the transfer window and had been looking to offload Martinez. A proposed move to Juventus fell through earlier in August.
Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation has been under renewed scrutiny following Robert Sanchez’s poor performance in Monday’s 3-2 win against Fulham when he was badly at fault in allowing a tame shot from Josh King to squeeze through him.
It had been hoped that 19-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders, who spent last season on loan at Strasbourg and made his first-team debut against Luton in the Carabao Cup on Thursday, would eventually prove able to step up and challenge Sanchez for the number one shirt.
However, the possibility of signing an established Premier League keeper and an experienced international presents obvious advantages for a club looking to challenge for the title this season, and Chelsea have opted to move .
Speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage of Monday’s game at Craven Cottage, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said: “Chelsea will never win the league with Sanchez in goal. Impossible. It can’t happen.”
Fellow pundit Gary Neville added: “The reality of it is, Chelsea do need a new goalkeeper and it’s one thing I’m surprised they haven’t deal with this in the transfer widow. That’s the last piece.”
Sanchez’s performances have been an issue that has haunted successive Chelsea managers.
Mauricio Pochettino dropped him as his number one in 2024, preferring the relatively untested Serbia international Djordje Petrovic, whilst Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior also left him out for periods in repose to poor form.
Villa have been open to selling Martinez, who joined from Arsenal for £17million in 2020, as they look to lower the average age of their squad.
The need for the club to sell this summer – with Morgan Rogers leaving for Chelsea for £117m, and Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne also sold – has been well documented as they look to comply with the financial rules of both UEFA and the Premier League.
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