Chelsea have reached a £7.5m agreement to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The 33-year-old Argentina international is set to undergo a medical in London and bolster the goalkeeping options at Stamford Bridge.
The decision follows growing doubts over Robert Sanchez’s form, particularly after Monday’s 3-2 win against Fulham, when he allowed a Josh King shot to beat him at the near post and later spilled another effort that Gonzalo Garcia converted. Club leaders had intended to back Sanchez but have moved for Martinez with the transfer window closing.
Chelsea also have Mike Penders, a £17m arrival from Genk, who is expected to make his debut in Thursday’s Carabao Cup tie with Luton Town.
Villa have been open to selling Martinez since signing Japan international Zion Suzuki from Parma for about £30m earlier this month.
It’s the latest in a string of dealings between the clubs: Chelsea signed forward Morgan Rogers from Villa for a club-record £117m, while Alejandro Garnacho moved the other way on an initial loan. Striker Nicolas Jackson, valued around £65m, was completing a medical at Villa Park on Thursday to reunite with former Villarreal coach Unai Emery. The sides also concluded a widely labeled “PSR swap,” with Ian Maatsen joining Villa and Omari Kellyman—now at Strasbourg—moving to Chelsea.
Juventus previously tried to land Martinez, but concerns over a finger injury ended those talks, and the Italian club instead took Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario on loan.