Chelsea are set to bolster their goalkeeping department after agreeing a £7.5m deal with Aston Villa for Argentina international Emiliano Martinez, with the transfer expected to close in the coming days ahead of the deadline.
The 33-year-old, who was instrumental in Argentina's World Cup triumph, is due to have a medical in London before finalising his switch to Stamford Bridge. Personal terms between the player and the club have already been settled, and he is expected to walk straight into the role of Chelsea's number one goalkeeper.
The move marks a notable shift in strategy from Chelsea's hierarchy, who had spent much of the summer expressing confidence in current goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. That patience appears to have run out following a shaky display from Sanchez during Monday's 3-2 victory over Fulham, in which he was at fault for both Fulham goals. He let Josh King's effort squirm through his hands near the post before later spilling another shot into a dangerous area, gifting Gonzalo Garcia a simple finish.
Sanchez had held down the starting spot at Chelsea since arriving in 2023, but the club's decision to move for Martinez so close to the transfer deadline suggests his position is now under serious threat. Chelsea also have summer signing Mike Penders, a £17m arrival from Genk, in their goalkeeping ranks. The young shot-stopper started Thursday's Carabao Cup clash against Luton Town.
Villa, for their part, had already signalled their willingness to part ways with Martinez after bringing in Japanese international Zion Suzuki from Parma in a deal worth around £30m earlier this month. Interest from elsewhere had previously emerged, with Juventus close to signing Martinez before that deal fell apart reportedly due to concerns over a finger injury. Villa had quoted Juventus an asking price of £8.5m at the time. The Italian side ultimately turned to Tottenham's Guglielmo Vicario on loan instead.
This latest transfer continues what has become a busy trading relationship between Chelsea and Aston Villa in recent times. Earlier this summer, Chelsea paid a club-record £117m to sign forward Morgan Rogers from Villa, while winger Alejandro Garnacho moved to Villa Park on an initial loan. Striker Nicolas Jackson, valued in the region of £65m including add-ons, was also completing a medical at Villa on Thursday as he prepares to link up again with former Villarreal boss Unai Emery. The two clubs previously combined on a deal widely seen as addressing profit and sustainability concerns, which saw Ian Maatsen join Villa while Omari Kellyman, now at Strasbourg, moved to Chelsea.
Chelsea have been active on multiple fronts as the transfer window nears its close. The club is also finalising a deal to sign 18-year-old Italian defender Honest Ahanor from Atalanta in a package reportedly worth up to £40m, with the youngster given permission to travel to London for a medical. On the outgoing side, Chelsea have sold striker Liam Delap to Nottingham Forest for £45m plus £5m in potential add-ons, while defender Mamadou Sarr is set to join Real Sociedad on a season-long loan without an option to make the move permanent.
With Martinez's experience set to add depth and reliability to Chelsea's goalkeeping options, attention will now turn to how quickly he can be integrated into Enzo Maresca's squad following his medical.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport and The Standard.