Chelsea agree to sign Lionel Messi’s World Cup winning Argentina teammate in £7.5m deal | Football News
Chelsea have agreed a £7.5 million deal to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez ahead of the summer transfer deadline, BBC reported.The 33-year-old Argentina international is set to undergo a medical in London before joining Chelsea’s goalkeeping group at Stamford Bridge.The move comes after concerns over the performances of Robert Sanchez, especially during Chelsea’s 3-2 win over Fulham on Monday.Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso had identified signing a goalkeeper as a priority after Sanchez’s display against Fulham. The deal for Martinez was completed quickly after that decision.Martinez has fallen out of favour at Aston Villa following the club’s signing of Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma earlier this month for around £30 million. Martinez is expected to sign a two-year contract with Chelsea, with an option to extend it by another year.Sanchez has been Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper since 2023. Against Fulham, he allowed Josh King’s shot to slip through his hands at the near post. Later in the match, he spilled another effort into a dangerous area, allowing Gonzalo Garcia to score.Chelsea had previously backed Sanchez as their first-choice goalkeeper, but the club has now decided to bring in Martinez just days before the transfer window closes.Chelsea also have Mike Penders, who joined from Genk for £17 million, as another goalkeeping option. He is expected to make his debut in the Carabao Cup against Luton Town on Thursday night.Chelsea are also expected to have a busy end to the transfer window as Manchester City continue their attempts to sign Enzo Fernandez. The Argentina midfielder wants to leave Chelsea and was left out of the squad for Thursday night’s Carabao Cup match against Luton.The transfer is another deal between Chelsea and Aston Villa in recent weeks.Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers from Villa for a club-record £117 million, while Alejandro Garnacho moved to Villa on an initial loan deal last month.Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson was completing a medical at Villa Park on Thursday as he prepares to reunite with his former Villarreal manager Unai Emery. Villa value the deal at around £65 million.The two clubs have completed several transfers recently, including Ian Maatsen joining Villa and Omari Kellyman moving to Chelsea in a deal that was widely described as a PSR swap.Martinez had also attracted interest from Juventus earlier in the transfer window, but that move collapsed because of concerns over a finger injury. Juventus later signed Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on loan.
