Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in a Chelsea jersey at Stamford Bridge

Emiliano MartinezTung Mahn (Breaking Media)

Emiliano Martinez to have Chelsea medical as Fabrizio Romano shares contract details

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Published on:

28 Aug 2026, 6:36 am

Emiliano Martinez is fast closing on his transfer from Aston Villa to Chelsea.

The Blues have moved quick to sign the Argentina World Cup winner amid concerns over Robert Sanchez being their number one goalkeeper.

Martinez, 33, is a popular figure at Villa Park, and entrenched his status as a club legend by winning the Europa League last season.

However, he has been consistently linked with the exit door in the past two summers, and had been on Juventus' radar earlier in the window.

That move failed to materialise, but Villa brought in Zion Suzuki from Parma and the Japan international is set to be Unai Emery's number one.

It now looks like a formality for Martinez to complete his switch to Stamford Bridge after a new update from Fabrizio Romano on Friday.

What's the latest on Emi Martinez's move from Aston Villa to Chelsea?

This one has really gathered pace in the last couple of days, with Chelsea acting quick after Sanchez's erratic display in the 3-2 win over Fulham on Monday.

Martinez gave the green light to the move on Thursday, and now things are moving even quicker before the weekend.

Noted transfer journalist Romano took to X early on Friday to provide a new update on the experienced goalkeeper's transfer.

He wrote that Martinez is in London on Friday to undergo his medical at Stamford Bridge and then sign his contract.

🔵🇦🇷 Emiliano Martínez, in London today for medical tests and then contract signing at Chelsea.

Deal valid until June 2028 with option for further season. pic.twitter.com/Hmdr1gwghs
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 28, 2026

Romano reports that Martinez is set to sign a contract that runs until June 2028 at Stamford Bridge, with the option of a further year.

What Emiliano Martinez has now told Chelsea as Fabrizio Romano shares Aston Villa transfer latest

Sad but inevitable end for Martinez at Aston Villa

It is always a sad thing when a popular player departs, and Villa have had more than their fair share of that disappointment this summer.

A team that finished fourth in the Premier League and won the Europa League last term has been decimated.

Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, and Ezri Konsa have departed, while Ollie Watkins is on the cusp of joining Al-Hilal.

So, it is sad to see Martinez join that exodus but the writing has been on the wall for the best part of a year in truth.

He almost joined Manchester United last summer, and though that deal fell through it always felt likely he would play elsewhere before the end of his career.

With Villa moving to sign Suzuki, it was inevitable that Martinez would move on somewhere, and barring any late hitches his new destination will be Chelsea.

Ollie Watkins