Chelsea recruit World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa

Chelsea have signed Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa, with the 33-year-old expected to challenge Robert Sanchez for the club’s number-one position.

Martinez joins Chelsea after six seasons at Villa, where he established himself as one of the Premier League’s leading goalkeepers. He made 256 appearances for the club after moving from Arsenal in 2020 and helped them win the Europa League last season.

His arrival follows renewed scrutiny of Sanchez, who was criticised after making an error in Chelsea’s 3-2 Premier League victory over Fulham on Monday.

“I’m delighted to be at this football club,” Martinez said. “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.”

The move continues the increasingly close transfer relationship between Chelsea and Aston Villa. Martinez’s switch is the eighth transfer or loan involving the two clubs in the space of four years.

That relationship has grown stronger since Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, took control in 2022. Morgan Rogers’ move to Chelsea, Alejandro Garnacho’s loan to Villa and Nicolas Jackson’s transfer to Villa have all taken place during this transfer window.

Chelsea have now paid Villa £163.5m for players since 2022. Villa have spent £102.5m on Chelsea players during the same period, a figure which includes the loan fee for Disasi.

The amount spent by Villa could rise to £150.5m if certain conditions in Garnacho’s loan agreement are met.

Martinez leaves Villa with a substantial collection of individual and international honours. He helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup and has also won two Copa America titles. He claimed successive Yashin Trophies in 2023 and 2024.

Villa had been seeking to move the goalkeeper on after signing Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma for almost £30m. A possible move for Martinez to Juventus also fell through earlier this month.

“I’m all passion and I play with my heart,” Martinez added. “I will give 100 per cent every game, every training session to make the club, my team-mates and the supporters proud.”

The Argentina international’s move to Stamford Bridge comes before Chelsea’s Premier League meeting with Brighton on Sunday.

Martinez’s six-year spell at Villa followed his departure from Arsenal in 2020, and he became a key figure for both club and country during that period. His record of success with Argentina and his performances in the Premier League will add competition to Chelsea’s goalkeeping department as the club prepare for the next stage of the season.