Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for £7.5 million on a three-year contract. Martinez, a 2022 World Cup winner, previously made 256 appearances for Villa after joining from Arsenal in 2020, helping the club secure a Europa League title last season.
"I'm delighted to be at this football club," Martinez stated. "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."
Martinez's move follows that of Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa in the previous week. The transfer activity underscores a significant exchange of players between Chelsea and Aston Villa over the past four years. Since Chelsea's owners, BlueCo, took control in 2022, the clubs have been involved in numerous deals. These include Carney Chukwuemeka's £20 million move to Chelsea, Ian Maatsen's £37.5 million transfer to Villa, Omari Kellyman's £19 million move to Chelsea, and Axel Disasi's loan to Villa for £5 million.
This summer alone has seen four additional transfers. Morgan Rogers moved to Chelsea for £117 million, while Alejandro Garnacho joined Villa on loan with an option to buy for approximately £43 million. Nicolas Jackson then transferred to Villa for £65 million before Martinez's arrival at Stamford Bridge.
Since 2022, Chelsea has spent £163.5 million on players from Aston Villa. Aston Villa's expenditure on Chelsea players, including Axel Disasi's loan fee, totals £102.5 million. This figure could increase to £150.5 million if certain conditions are met to make Garnacho's loan move permanent, terms Chelsea believes are readily achievable.