Chelsea agree £7.5m fee for Villa's Martinez

What the report says

Chelsea have agreed a £7.5m fee to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, with the Argentina international expected to take a medical in London. The move would add another experienced option at Stamford Bridge as the club looks to strengthen its goalkeeping department before the transfer deadline.

BBC Sport says the deal comes amid renewed concern about Robert Sanchez, Chelsea’s first-choice keeper since 2023, after errors in Monday’s 3-2 win over Fulham. Martinez, 33, is viewed as a significant alternative, while Chelsea also have Mike Penders, a £17m signing from Genk, in their squad. Penders is reported to be in line for a Carabao Cup debut against Luton Town.

Aston Villa have reportedly been open to selling Martinez since bringing in Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for about £30m earlier in the month. The transfer also fits a pattern of recent business between Chelsea and Villa, who have completed several notable deals in both directions, including Morgan Rogers moving to Chelsea and Alejandro Garnacho joining Villa on loan.

Martinez is a World Cup winner with Argentina and was part of Villa’s run to Europa League success, making him one of the more high-profile goalkeeping moves of the window. In broader terms, the transfer highlights how quickly clubs can shift plans late in the market when form, squad depth and financial strategy all intersect.