CHELSEA SIGN ARGENTINA GOALKEEPER EMILIANO MARTINEZ FROM ASTON VILLA
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Chelsea have completed the permanent signing of Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa, the Premier League club announced on Sunday.
The 33-year-old, who was part of Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning squad, has signed a three-year contract with Chelsea.
Martinez expressed his excitement about joining the London club, saying he was determined to help Chelsea compete for major honours.
“I’m delighted to be at this football club,” Martinez said in a statement published on Chelsea’s website.
“Coming to Chelsea, for me and my family, was an easy decision to make and I’m just over the moon – I can’t wait to get started.”
The goalkeeper added that his ambition was to win trophies with Chelsea and give his best for the club, teammates and supporters.
“I want to be successful here. I’m someone who wants to win at everything I do and I want to bring that here to this football club because it’s a football club that wins titles, so I think it’s a good match,” he said.
Martinez began his English career after joining Arsenal from Independiente in August 2010 at the age of 17.
After several loan spells, he became Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 2019/20 campaign and played a key role in the club’s FA Cup triumph.
He also won the Community Shield with Arsenal at the start of the following season before joining Aston Villa in September 2020.
During his six seasons at Villa, Martinez made 256 appearances and helped the club win the UEFA Europa League in May.
At international level, Martinez made his Argentina debut in June 2021 and has since earned 67 caps.
He has won the Copa América twice, in 2021 and 2024, as well as the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
The goalkeeper has also twice won the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world’s best-performing goalkeeper, at the 2023 and 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremonies.
Aston Villa, in a statement on its X account, thanked Martinez for his contribution to the club’s recent success and wished him well at Chelsea.
The move adds further experience and international pedigree to Chelsea’s goalkeeping options ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
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