Chelsea considers signing goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez before transfer deadline

A World Cup-winning goalkeeper, available for less than £10 million, with days left in the transfer window. Chelsea appears to be seriously considering whether Emiliano Martinez is the answer to a problem that’s been growing louder with every Robert Sanchez mistake this season.

Martinez, the 33-year-old Argentine who helped his country lift the 2022 World Cup trophy, has been offered to Chelsea and Tottenham by intermediaries after Aston Villa signaled willingness to let him leave. The Premier League summer transfer window shuts at 23:00 BST on September 1, 2026, giving all parties a narrow runway to finalize any deal.

Why Villa is willing to sell

Martinez has reportedly pushed for a move for two consecutive summers now, and Villa have finally stopped fighting the tide.

The club signed Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma as a direct replacement, effectively giving Martinez the green light to find a new home.

Martinez still has a contract running through 2029, an extension he signed as recently as August 2024. A move to Juventus had apparently been in the works at some point but collapsed, leaving Martinez’s camp to pivot toward English clubs. The sub-£10 million asking price reflects Villa’s pragmatism: get the deal done, move forward with Suzuki, and avoid the drama of a player who clearly wants to be elsewhere.

Chelsea’s goalkeeper headache

Xabi Alonso’s interest in Martinez traces back to a problem that has been festering since the season started. Robert Sanchez, Chelsea’s current first-choice goalkeeper, has had a rough opening stretch.

Martinez joined Aston Villa from Arsenal in 2020 for £17 million and quickly became one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League, earning FIFA recognition as the best men’s goalkeeper and making over 250 appearances for the club, including contributing to their Europa League title in 2026.

Fitness and timing concerns

Martinez missed Aston Villa’s season opener due to fitness issues stemming from his post-World Cup schedule.

With the window closing on September 1 and a two-hour grace period available only for completing paperwork on deals already agreed, there’s no room for prolonged negotiations.

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