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Emi Martinez: Top facts you need to know about World Cup champion set to join Chelsea
28th August, 2026 10:11 AM
Chelsea’s pursuit of a new goalkeeper is set to conclude this Friday, August 28, 2026, with Emiliano Martínez in advanced stages to complete his transfer from Aston Villa to the London club.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Argentine shot-stopper will be in London today for his medical tests before signing his Chelsea contract. The Italian journalist reports that the keeper will sign a deal valid until June 2028, with an option for a further season.
Martínez’s arrival comes as Robert Sánchez’s position as first-choice goalkeeper remains under scrutiny.
Sánchez’s error-filled performance in Chelsea’s season opener against Fulham did little to convince the Blues’ technical bench of his ability to hold down the starting spot for the entire campaign. Martínez had sought a move away from Villa last season but ultimately stayed, helping the Midlands club win the Europa League under Unai Emery.
Experience and proven leadership
In a departure from Chelsea’s recent trend of signing only young prospects, the arrivals of veterans such as Danny Welbeck, Jordan Henderson, and now Martínez signal a shift toward acquiring ready-made stars and proven winners.
Martínez brings far more than just elite shot-stopping. The World Cup winner boasts a Europa League title and two Copa América trophies, cementing a winning mentality built on the biggest stages in world football.
Furthermore, his defensive command, penalty-shootout expertise, and vocal leadership will add a vital new dimension to Chelsea’s young dressing room.
The Arsenal connection
Martínez spent a decade at Arsenal (2010–2020) before joining Aston Villa for Ksh3.2 billion after helping the Gunners win the 2020 FA Cup. The latest deal to bring him to Stamford Bridge is valued at Ksh1.2 billion.
With Arsenal currently settled in the goalkeeping department with David Raya, there was no interest or push from the Gunners to re-sign their former shot-stopper.
His move to one of Arsenal’s fiercest rivals adds an extra layer of intrigue to his London return, though his aggressive performances against his former club while at Villa have already shown he leaves friendships off the pitch.
An upgrade over Sánchez
Based on Squawka’s per-90 Premier League statistics from last season, Martínez represents a clear upgrade over Robert Sánchez across shot-stopping efficiency, overall distribution, and defensive security.
Defensively, Martínez provides a far more reliable presence between the posts. He averages slightly more saves per match (3.1 to 3.0) while maintaining a significantly higher save percentage (70.9% to 67.59%).
This superior shot-stopping efficiency directly translates to a lower rate of goals conceded per game (1.3 to 1.4), despite both goalkeepers averaging 0.3 clean sheets per match.
In possession, Martínez is considerably more composed and accurate. He completes 28.4 passes per game at a 73.82% success rate, compared to Sánchez’s 25.8 completed passes at just 66.74%. While Sánchez completes slightly more long passes per 90 (5.9 to 5.6) and edges out Martínez in ball recoveries (9.0 to 8.7), Martínez is far more precise when kicking long, posting a 36.08% long-pass accuracy compared to Sánchez’s 32.1%.
Overall, Martínez offers greater efficiency both on the line and with the ball at his feet.
With the final part of his transfer now a matter of when, it remains to be seen if he becomes the missing piece of Chelsea’s title prospects under Xabi Alonso.
