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Sports · Soccer · published 2026-08-30 · via BBC Sport

Chelsea lands World Cup-winning keeper in latest cross-town transfer with Villa

Image via BBC Sport
Image via BBC Sport

Chelsea have signed Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa for £7.5 million on a three-year contract. The 33-year-old, who helped Villa win the Europa League last season, becomes the eighth player to move between the two clubs since 2022. This summer alone has seen four transfers between the sides, including Nicolas Jackson's move to Villa last week.

Expanded Detail

Martinez arrives at Stamford Bridge with a decorated pedigree, having claimed the World Cup with Argentina in 2022 and lifted the Europa League with Villa last season. His 256 appearances for the Midlands club followed a spell at Arsenal, where he began his Premier League career.

The transfer deepens a remarkable trading pattern between the two clubs since BlueCo's £4.25bn takeover in 2022. Chelsea have spent £163.5m on Villa players, while Villa have paid £102.5m for Chelsea talent, a figure that could climb to £150.5m if Garnacho's loan becomes permanent. The close relationship between co-owners Eghbali and Sawiris has facilitated this pipeline.

Context

This transfer highlights the increasingly transactional nature of Premier League player movement, where ownership relationships

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
Read the full article at BBC Sport →
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This summary is AI-generated and original to Mobble; the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “Martinez is eighth Chelsea-Villa deal in four years.” Browse more stories.