Argentina’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez has made his Chelsea debut against Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge, starting between the posts just hours after his £7.5 million move from Aston Villa was officially announced.
In a dramatic Sunday morning move, new Blues head coach Xabi Alonso named the 33-year-old shot-stopper directly to the starting XI for Chelsea's Premier League home clash. Martínez replaces Robert Sánchez, who was left out of the matchday squad entirely following scrutiny over recent performances.
Key Details of the Transfer & Debut Selection
The Rapid Turnaround: Chelsea officially confirmed Martínez's arrival on a three-year contract through 2029 on Sunday morning. With registration papers cleared ahead of kickoff, Alonso wasted no time in handed the Argentine his club debut.
Bargain Valuation: Martínez completes his transfer from Villa Park for a reported initial fee of £7.5 million ($10.15m USD). The move follows Villa's acquisition of Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki earlier in the window.
Goalkeeping Restructure: Robert Sánchez's omission from the matchday squad leaves his future uncertain ahead of the transfer deadline, while summer signing Mike Penders takes his spot on the substitutes' bench.
Stamford Bridge Squad News: Alonso's debut lineup for Martínez features a back three of Wesley Fofana, Maxence Lacroix, and captain Levi Colwill, with Moises Caicedo and Reece James named among the substitutes. Enzo Fernández remains omitted from the squad amid transfer discussions with Manchester City.
Career Overview: Emiliano Martínez
| Parameter | Details |
| Full Name | Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez |
| New Club | Chelsea F.C. |
| Former Club | Aston Villa F.C. |
| Transfer Fee | £7.5 Million (~$10.15M USD) |
| Contract Length | 3 Years (Through June 2029) |
| Aston Villa Legacy | 256 Appearances, Europa League Champion, Top-4 Finish |
| International Honours | 2022 FIFA World Cup, 2021 & 2024 Copa América |
What Martínez & Alonso Said
"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. 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."
— Emiliano Martínez upon signing for Chelsea
Confirmed Chelsea XI vs Brighton (Aug 30, 2026)
Starting Lineup (3-4-2-1): Emiliano Martínez (GK); Wesley Fofana, Maxence Lacroix, Levi Colwill (C); Pedro Neto, Malo Gusto, Romeo Lavia, Jorrel Hato; Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers; João Pedro.
Substitutes: Mike Penders, Reece James, Josh Acheampong, Juan Giménez Chavarría, Moises Caicedo, Valentín Barco, Jamie Gittens, Estêvão Willian, Danny Welbeck.
