TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Emiliano Martinez barely had time to settle into life at Chelsea before being thrown straight into Premier League action. Hours after his move from Aston Villa was confirmed, the Argentina goalkeeper was already standing between the posts at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea officially announced the signing of the 33-year-old on a three-year contract, completing a move that gives new manager Xabi Alonso an experienced goalkeeper as he looks to build a team capable of challenging for major honors.
“I’m delighted to be at this football club,” Martinez said, according to Chelsea's official 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's arrival was confirmed just hours before Chelsea's 4-3 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, but Alonso had no hesitation in putting him into the starting lineup.
Martinez had completed the move before Friday's registration deadline and trained with his new teammates before making his debut. According to BBC Sport, Chelsea paid £7.5 million for the goalkeeper.
Despite the short turnaround, Martinez said he was ready to play and quickly took his place in goal.
“I have come here to challenge and to try and win the Premier League,” Martinez told Sky Sports after the match. “I know the talent we have up front. I try to bring that solidity in the back.”
Martinez Brings Major Experience to Chelsea
Martinez began his career in the youth system of Argentine club Independiente before joining Arsenal in 2010 at the age of 17.
After several loan spells, he became Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper toward the end of the 2019-20 season, starting the club's final 11 matches and helping them win the FA Cup. He also won the Community Shield the following season before moving to Aston Villa in September 2020.
According to Chelsea, Martinez made 256 appearances for Villa over six seasons and helped the club win the UEFA Europa League in May.
His international career has been even more decorated. Martinez made his Argentina debut in 2021 and has since become the national team's first-choice goalkeeper, earning 67 caps.
He has won the Copa America twice, in 2021 and 2024, as well as the 2022 World Cup. He also received the Yashin Trophy as the world's best-performing goalkeeper at the 2023 and 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremonies.
His experience and leadership were among the qualities that attracted Chelsea, with former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given describing the signing as a “brilliant” one.
“Martinez is interesting,” Given told BBC Sport. “He's only just signed but Alonso's thought, ‘I'm not messing about, I'm getting him straight in the team.’ The manager clearly thinks he needs someone of that sort of stature.”
Martinez Cannot Solve Chelsea's Defensive Problems Alone
Martinez's debut came in a chaotic match that highlighted both Chelsea's attacking strength and their defensive vulnerabilities.
Chelsea raced into a 3-0 lead against Brighton before allowing their opponents to fight back. Cole Palmer eventually restored a two-goal advantage, but Pascal Gross scored again in stoppage time to set up a nervous finish.
Martinez was not directly blamed for any of Brighton's three goals, but the result extended Chelsea's worrying defensive record.
As reported by BBC Sport, Chelsea have conceded five goals in their first two Premier League matches while scoring seven. They have also gone 18 games without a clean sheet, their longest such run since the 1960s.
“A win is a win,” Martinez said after his debut. “I know it wasn't a perfect game. But in the end, winning and moving on is what we need.”
He also acknowledged that Chelsea must improve defensively despite the quality of their attack.
“The front three is amazing. When we go forward, we can hurt teams,” he said. “At the back, we need to bring the goals down.”
Alonso also welcomed Martinez's immediate impact but said the goalkeeper had only just begun working with the squad.
“I am happy with his first impact,” Alonso said. “He has been in the building for 48 hours so now we will have the whole week to prepare for the next one.”
The manager added that Martinez's personality could have an influence on the team, describing his “charisma” and “aura” as qualities that could help establish a strong connection with his teammates.
Robert Sanchez's Chelsea Future Uncertain
Martinez's arrival has also put Robert Sanchez's future at Stamford Bridge under renewed scrutiny.
Sanchez, who joined Chelsea from Brighton in 2023, was left out of the squad for the match against his former club. Alonso has previously backed the Spanish goalkeeper, but the club is now reportedly prepared to make him available for transfer.
Asked about Sanchez's future, Alonso said: “We will see. Sometimes you have to take tough decisions.”
BBC Sport reported that Martinez's underlying numbers last season were stronger than Sanchez's in several areas, including goals conceded, save percentage, goals prevented relative to shot quality and passing accuracy.
Martinez has already begun embracing his new surroundings. He said he spoke with Chelsea legends John Terry and Petr Cech before taking the No. 26 shirt.
“I know how big this club is and what we want to achieve this season,” Martinez said. “I came here to help.”
Chelsea's attacking form means Martinez could have plenty of opportunities to help them pursue their ambitions. The team has scored seven goals in its opening two league matches under Alonso.
But the goalkeeper's debut also showed that Chelsea's title ambitions will require more than a high-profile addition between the posts.
Their next Premier League test will be a trip to Arsenal, where Alonso will hope Martinez can provide the defensive stability Chelsea have been missing while the team's attacking trio continues to develop.
