Chelsea FC have signed goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa in a £7.5 million deal. The 34-year-old Argentine completed his move on Thursday night, signing a two-year contract with an option for a further year, as reported by The Guardian.
Head coach Xabi Alonso gave the green light for the transfer after the club's sporting leadership presented the idea. Martinez immediately replaces Robert Sanchez as the first-choice goalkeeper. Sanchez, 28, is now expected to leave Stamford Bridge, with interest from clubs in England, Europe, and Saudi Arabia. He is unlikely to feature when Chelsea, currently seventh in the Premier League with three points from one game, host second-placed Brighton on Sunday. If he stays, he will be frozen out of the squad.
Why did Chelsea replace Robert Sanchez?
Robert Sanchez's position became untenable after a clumsy performance in Monday's 3-2 win over Fulham. He was at fault for both Fulham goals and dribbled the ball behind his own line for a corner. Sanchez had been signed from Brighton for £25 million three years ago. His departure marks the end of a turbulent period for Chelsea's goalkeeping department, which has seen multiple changes since the sale of Thibaut Courtois eight years ago.
Ben Roberts, Chelsea's head of goalkeeping and an advocate for Sanchez from their time together at Brighton, now oversees a new hierarchy. The club believes young Belgian Mike Penders, who made his debut in Thursday's Carabao Cup win over Luton, will become one of the world's best. They have previously avoided signing established stars like Milan's Mike Maignan or Porto's Diogo Costa to not block the 21-year-old's pathway. Academy graduate Teddy Sharman-Lowe is the third-choice keeper.
What is Chelsea's current squad situation?
The Martinez signing arrives as Chelsea prepare for a tough match against Brighton. The Blues have scored three goals and conceded two this season, leaving them with a +1 goal difference and three points behind leaders Manchester City. Their squad is dealing with several absences, with Jordan Henderson, Enzo Fernández, Marco Palestra, and Moisés Caicedo all currently sidelined, as shown on our injuries page.
This context makes the need for a stable, experienced goalkeeper more pressing. Martinez brings a proven track record from his time at Aston Villa and with the Argentina national team. His arrival is a decisive move by Alonso, who has only been in charge a short time but has quickly addressed a clear problem position.
How does this transfer fit Chelsea's recent goalkeeper history?
Chelsea's search for a reliable number one has been a long-running issue. Last season, under brief coach Liam Rosenior, the selection of Filip Jorgensen over Sanchez for a Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain backfired in a 5-2 defeat. Jorgensen, signed from Villarreal two years ago as Sanchez's deputy, was better with his feet but struggled to convince. He departed the club this summer.
Earlier, Enzo Maresca returned to Sanchez as his keeper after becoming head coach in the summer of 2024 but did not stick with Jorgensen after bringing him into the side in February 2025. Before that, Mauricio Pochettino had switched to Djordje Petrovic midway through the 2023-24 campaign. The new signing aims to end this cycle of instability, echoing the decisive move made by Jose Mourinho in 2004 when he replaced Carlo Cudicini with Petr Cech.
What happens next for Chelsea?
The immediate focus shifts to integrating Martinez and preparing for the Brighton fixture. You can view the full upcoming schedule on our fixtures page. With Sanchez's future elsewhere, the pecking order is now clear: Martinez is the established number one, with Penders as the developing understudy. This move represents a pragmatic, short-term solution from Alonso, prioritizing immediate reliability over a long-term project as the team seeks to climb the standings. The decision shows the new coach's willingness to make bold calls to fix visible weaknesses, a necessary trait for success at a club with Chelsea's ambitions.
