According to a cascade of reports from Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are set to finalize the signing of Aston Villa’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez after agreeing a £7.5 million fee. The transfer, described by multiple outlets as a “bargain” and a “no‑brainer” for the new manager Xabi Alonso, is expected to be completed once the Argentine completes his medical in London later this week.

Medical scheduled, deal effectively done

Roma‑based journalist Fabrizio Romano first hinted at the move on TheScore, later confirming that Martínez would travel to London for his medical on Friday.

"Chelsea are now on the verge of completing the signing of Emiliano Martinez, with the Aston Villa goalkeeper arriving in London on Friday to undergo his medical," CaughtOffside reported.
The BBC and Yahoo Sports have both published the agreed £7.5 million fee, reinforcing that the clubs have already reached an agreement and are only awaiting the final health check.

What Martínez brings to Chelsea

Born on 2 September 1992, the 34‑year‑old Argentine is widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s top shot‑stoppers. He rose through the ranks at Arsenal, spending several loan spells before establishing himself at Aston Villa in 2020 on a free transfer after his contract with the Gunners expired. Martínez’s résumé includes a 2022 FIFA World Cup win, the 2020‑21 Premier League Golden Glove, and a reputation for decisive penalty‑saving – qualities that Xabi Alonso’s side have been missing after a mixed start to the season.

Market‑value trackers list Martínez at roughly €30 million, a figure that reflects his peak performance years rather than his current contract situation. The £7.5 million fee, equivalent to about €8.9 million, therefore represents a significant discount compared with his market valuation, especially when contrasted with his free arrival at Villa and the £5 million Villa‑to‑Chelsea fee reported by The Guardian’s RSS feed.

Martínez signed a three‑year contract with Villa in 2020, set to run until 2025. The deal with Chelsea will likely see him on a similar long‑term deal, offering stability in the goalkeeper position and potentially freeing up a future transfer window for Chelsea to address other squad needs.

In addition to his on‑field credentials, Martínez’s experience in high‑pressure situations – notably the 2022 World Cup final and numerous Champions League appearances – could provide a leadership boost to a Chelsea side that has struggled for consistency between the posts. Robert Sánchez’s underwhelming start under Alonso has left a clear vacancy, and the Argentine’s arrival is being framed by the club’s media as “a clear upgrade” (The New York Times).

While the transfer appears imminent, the final confirmation will hinge on the medical results. Should everything go smoothly, Chelsea could announce the signing as early as the weekend, making Martínez the second confirmed addition of the window after the club’s recent deal for Enzo Fernández.

Reliability: 5/5

The rumour is backed by multiple high‑credibility sources, including Fabrizio Romano, BBC Sport, The Guardian, and CaughtOffside, all of which have reported the same fee and medical schedule. The convergence of these independent outlets makes the information exceptionally firm at this stage.