Chelsea contact Villa over Emiliano Martinez transfer

On 26 August 2026, Chelsea made contact with representatives of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez about a potential transfer, the Premier League club confirmed. The 33-year-old Argentina international is considered available after Villa's recent signing activity.

Villa signed Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for about £30m earlier this month, a move that has left Martinez open to a transfer away from the club. Chelsea and Villa have completed multiple deals this window and are thought to be willing trading partners; Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers from Villa for a club-record £117m while Alejandro Garnacho moved to Villa on an initial loan. Striker Nicolas Jackson, valued around £65m, has also been linked with a move to Villa that would reunite him with former manager Unai Emery.

The two clubs were involved in a transaction widely described as a "PSR swap" which saw defender Ian Maatsen join Villa and Omari Kellyman, who is now at Strasbourg, move to Chelsea. That prior business underlines the recent transfer activity between the sides.

Juventus attempted to sign Martinez earlier in the transfer window, but that deal collapsed because of concerns over a finger injury. After the move fell through, the Italian club signed Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on loan instead.

Concerns over Chelsea's goalkeeping position have been highlighted by Robert Sanchez's early-season errors; Sanchez was beaten at his near post by Josh King's angled shot in Chelsea's opening Premier League match against Fulham and later spilled another effort into a dangerous area, allowing Gonzalo Garcia to score, although Chelsea won 3-2 at Craven Cottage. Those moments have added context to Chelsea's interest in defensive reinforcements.

Chelsea next face Luton Town in the Carabao Cup, and manager Xabi Alonso said Mike Penders, the club's number two goalkeeper, could start on Thursday. Penders joined Chelsea after a successful loan spell at Strasbourg.