--- title: "Chelsea Sign Emiliano Martínez: 2022 World Cup Winner Returns to London" description: "Chelsea have officially signed Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez from Aston Villa. According to media reports, the transfer cost €8.7 million for three years; the 2022 World Cup winner returns to London." date: 2026-08-30T11:14:02.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/chelsea-signs-emiliano-martinez tags: [chelsea, emiliano-martinez, aston-villa, transfer, goalkeepers, premier-league, argentina] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Chelsea Sign Emiliano Martínez: 2022 World Cup Winner Returns to London ![Emiliano Martinez in a Chelsea kit at the official contract signing ceremony](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/30/chelsea-podpisal-emiliano-martinesa/chelsea-podpisal-emiliano-martinesa-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Chelsea officially announced the signing of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez from Aston Villa. - According to media reports, the transfer fee was around €8.7 million, with a three-year contract term. - Martínez is a 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina; his rights previously belonged to Arsenal (2012–2020). - At Aston Villa, the goalkeeper played 256 matches, kept 80 clean sheets, and won the Europa League last season. London's Chelsea have officially announced the signing of Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who previously played for Birmingham's Aston Villa. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the official website of the London club. For the 34-year-old goalkeeper, who became a world champion with the Argentina national team at the 2022 tournament, this transfer marks a return to the capital of England, where he had already made his way from the youth system to professional football. At his presentation in front of the cameras, Martínez poses in the blue training kit of the "Blues" with the LEGORA sponsor logo on the sleeve, holding a dark goalkeeper jersey with the FIFA Champions badge. ### Official statement and deal details According to media reports, the transfer fee for the Argentine for the Londoners stood at around €8.7 million, with the contract signed for three years. Thus, Chelsea are strengthening their goalkeeper position by signing one of the most in-demand goalkeepers in the world, who last season, as part of the "Villans," reached victory in the Europa League. For a club undergoing a rebuild of its goalkeeping line, the arrival of an experienced world champion is a notable reinforcement and a signal of intent to compete for trophies in the new season. ### Words from the goalkeeper himself In his first address to the fans, Martínez emphasized that the move to the "Blues" camp was an obvious step for him and his family. "I am happy to be at this football club. The move to Chelsea was an easy decision for me and my family, and I am simply thrilled — I cannot wait for my debut. I want to succeed here. I am a person who wants to win at everything I do, and I want to bring that here, to this club, because this is a club that wins trophies," the Argentine stated. The goalkeeper also assured that he would give his all in every match and every training session, so that his teammates and fans could be proud of his work. ### A path from London to London: from Arsenal to the Villans For Emiliano Martínez, this is not his first experience of living and playing in the capital of England. From 2012 to 2020, the rights to the Argentine belonged to London's Arsenal, however, he managed to play only 15 official matches for the main team of the "Gunners." After that, the goalkeeper went out on loan, and then fully blossomed precisely in the squad of Aston Villa, where he became one of the key players and one of the best goalkeepers in the world, which ultimately led him to the title of world champion in Argentina. ### Statistics and trophies in Birmingham In the squad of the Birmingham club, Martínez played 256 matches in all competitions, keeping 80 of them clean sheets. Under the guidance of the "Villans," the Argentine became the winner of the Europa League last season, cementing his reputation as a reliable and characterful goalkeeper capable of winning key games. It is precisely this combination of experience, leadership qualities, and trophies that made him attractive to Chelsea, who are looking for a goalkeeper with a lot of experience in big matches. ### Contradictory data It is worth noting the difference in sources of information about the financial terms of the deal. The official Chelsea website confirms the fact of signing a contract with Martínez, however, the exact transfer fee and the term of the agreement are not disclosed in the open statement. The figures of €8.7 million and a three-year contract term are cited by the media and are not part of the club's official press release. Thus, the fact of the transfer is confirmed, while the specific financial parameters remain at the level of journalistic data and may be clarified as details of the contract are published. ### Context: rebuilding Chelsea's goalkeeping line Martínez's arrival fits into a broader context of personnel changes at the London club. It was previously reported that another Chelsea player — Mikhail Mudryk — could switch from the London giant to another Premier League club, which indicates active squad rotation ahead of the new season. In this situation, signing an experienced world champion for the goalkeeper position looks like a logical step to strengthen squad depth and competition for a place in the starting lineup. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Return to London: Chelsea sign the world champion](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/povernennya-london-chelsi-pidpisav-chempionat-1788088139.html) - Основной источник: факт подписания, цитата Мартинеса, статистика (256 матчей, 80 «сухих»), период в «Арсенале» 2012–2020, 15 матчей за основную команду. - [Martínez comments on his transfer to Chelsea](https://www.livesport.ru/football/2026/08/30/martinez/) - Комментарий вратаря по поводу перехода, согласуется с цитатой в основном тексте. - [Chelsea announce the signing of one of the world's best goalkeepers](https://tsn.ua/ru/prosport/chelsi-obyavil-o-podpisanii-odnogo-iz-luchshih-vratarey-mira-3158603.html) - Подтверждает официальное объявление клуба о трансфере. - [Aston Villa and Argentina national team goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez moves to Chelsea: details, fee ...](https://www.championat.com/football/article-6599884-vratar-aston-villy-i-sbornoj-argentiny-emiliano-martines-perehodit-v-chelsi-podrobnosti-summa-transfera-statistika-mnenie.html) - Приводит сумму трансфера (~8,7 млн евро) и срок контракта (3 года); эти цифры не раскрыты в официальном релизе, поэтому отмечены как данные СМИ. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: How much did the transfer of Emiliano Martínez to Chelsea cost? **A:** According to media reports, the move cost the Londoners approximately €8.7 million, with a three-year contract term. The official Chelsea website confirmed the fact of the signing, but did not disclose the exact amount and term in the open statement. ### Q: Did Martínez previously play for a London club? **A:** Yes. From 2012 to 2020, the rights to the Argentine belonged to Arsenal, however, he played only 15 official matches for the main team, after which he blossomed in the squad of Aston Villa. ### Q: What trophies did Martínez win at Aston Villa? **A:** In the squad of the "Villans," the goalkeeper became the winner of the Europa League last season; in total, he played 256 matches for the club, keeping 80 of them clean sheets.