Emiliano Martinez set for Chelsea medical after £7.5m fee agreed with Aston Villa

Chelsea have agreed a £7.5m fee to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, with the 33-year-old Argentina international set to undergo a medical in London and strengthen the goalkeeping group at Stamford Bridge, according to BBC Sport.

The move follows concern over Robert Sanchez, and particularly his display in Monday's 3-2 win over Fulham. Chelsea's first choice since 2023, he allowed Josh King's shot to slip through his grasp at the near post, then spilled another effort into a dangerous area in the second half to let Gonzalo Garcia score.

Why Chelsea moved for Emiliano Martinez now

It is a sharp turnaround. Those in charge at Stamford Bridge had been keen to back Sanchez, only to move days before the deadline. Chelsea also have Mike Penders, a £17m signing from Genk, who was in line to make his debut in the Carabao Cup against Luton Town on Thursday night.

Villa, for their part, have been willing to sell since signing Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma for around £30m earlier this month. Juventus tried for Martinez earlier in the window before that deal collapsed over concerns about a finger injury, and the Italian club signed Tottenham's Guglielmo Vicario on loan instead.

Another deal between two familiar clubs

Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers from Villa for a club-record £117m, Alejandro Garnacho went the other way on an initial loan last month, and Nicolas Jackson - valued at about £65m - was completing a medical at Villa Park on Thursday, where he will link up again with his former Villarreal manager Unai Emery. It has been a busy few days at Villa Park, with Leon Goretzka arriving on a free transfer from Bayern Munich.

Martinez would leave having won the Europa League with Villa and reached the World Cup final with Argentina last season. If you fancy testing yourself on the rest of the division's goalkeepers, our Premier League goalkeepers quiz is here.