Emiliano Martínez
CHE
Goalkeeper
--
Sep 2, 1992 (34)
Right
6'5"
194 lb
Expected to miss several weeks
Martinez is recovering well following surgery on his fractured jaw but is expected to remain sidelined for several weeks, according to coach Xabi Alonso. "Emi is doing better. He had the surgery and day by day he is feeling better, but we still need to wait. A few weeks. Hopefully, less than more, but we need to wait."
Analysis: Martinez faces an extended spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery to repair the fractured jaw he sustained during Saturday's 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton. The goalkeeper suffered the injury following a collision midway through the second half and was subsequently taken to hospital, where examinations confirmed the need for surgery. Although the procedure was successful and coach Alonso has reported encouraging progress in his recovery, Martinez is still expected to miss several weeks of competitive action. The coach expressed hope that his absence could be shorter than initially anticipated but stopped short of providing a definitive return date. Mike Penders, who replaced Martinez against Everton and earned praise from Alonso for his performance, is now the leading candidate to handle Chelsea's goalkeeping duties, starting with Saturday's clash against Tottenham. Martinez will continue his recovery before undergoing further assessments to determine when he can safely return to training and competitive action.
Undergoes successful jaw surgery
Martinez (jaw) underwent successful surgery after suffering a fractured jaw during Saturday's 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton, according to the club.
Analysis: Martinez sustained the injury following a collision midway through the second half against Everton and was subsequently taken to hospital, where examinations confirmed a fractured jaw requiring surgery. The goalkeeper has since confirmed that the procedure went well and indicated that he expects to return within a few weeks, although Chelsea have yet to establish an official recovery timeline. Martinez is expected to miss several upcoming matches while recovering, with Mike Penders likely to take over goalkeeping duties in his absence.
Undergoes successful surgery
Martinez is optimistic following a medical procedure to repair his jaw injury, sending a message via his social media saying "Thanks to everyone for the messages; the surgery went well. The most important thing is that we won and kept a clean sheet. We'll be back in a few weeks."
Analysis: Martinez will continue his recovery process after being involved in a collision during Saturday's win over Everton, and early reports indicate he'll be sidelined for a few games. With the goalkeeper himself saying he'll be back in weeks, he'll likely stay sidelined in immediate EPL action. In that case, Mike Penders could be expected to fill in for him. Martinez's precise timeline will likely depend on his progress in the coming days.
Conscious after collision
Martinez has a jaw injury but is conscious and in the hospital after being involved in a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite in Saturday's win over Everton, according to Gaston Edul of ESPN.
Analysis: Martinez underwent a CT scan and tests on both his back and neck, and everything came out well, according to Edul. The jaw injury is troublesome, and it remains to be seen when he'll be able to train -- and play -- again. Mike Penders should play a bigger role between the posts if Martinez has to be sidelined, though it's uncertain whether that'll be the case since he can play with a protective mask.
Forced off after head collision
Martinez was forced off during the second half of Saturday's Premier League clash against Everton after suffering a head collision with Jarrad Branthwaite. The goalkeeper was unable to continue following the incident, raising concerns about his availability for Chelsea's upcoming fixtures. Coach Xabi Alonso told TNT after the game, per Simon Johnson. "As far as I know he left the stadium conscious. Right now he is in the hospital doing precautionary tests so let's see but this is what I know so far."
Analysis: Martinez suffered a worrying head injury after colliding with Jarrad Branthwaite during Saturday's 2-0 win at Everton and was stretchered off in the second half. He left the stadium conscious and was taken to hospital for precautionary tests, which will determine whether he suffered a concussion or another head-related issue. The goalkeeper had entered the contest following a solid performance in the victory over Bournemouth, but his availability for upcoming matches now remains uncertain. Should Martinez be required to spend time on the sidelines, Mike Penders, who replaced him Saturday to make his Premier League debut, would be the leading candidate to take over the starting goalkeeper role for Chelsea.
Makes three saves in win
Martinez had three saves and allowed one goal in Saturday's 5-1 victory versus AFC Bournemouth.
Analysis: Martinez made three saves while allowing one goal during Saturday's 5-1 victory over Bournemouth, with all three stops coming during a threatening first half from the visitors. He denied Rayan after the forward broke through on goal, reacted immediately to stop Ryan Christie's rebound and later got down to keep out Antonio Silva's glancing header, preserving Chelsea's 2-0 halftime advantage. Bournemouth's lone goal came when Moises Caicedo's attempted clearance ricocheted off Evanilson from close range, giving Martinez little chance of preserving the clean sheet.
Concedes three in loss
Martinez made three saves and allowed three goals in Friday's 3-0 defeat versus Brentford.
Analysis: Martinez struggled against Brentford Friday, conceding three goals in the road thrashing. He has now conceded multiple goals in all four of his starts for Chelsea this season, a rough start to his tenure with his new club. He will look to bounce back on Oct. 10 versus Bournemouth, a side which has scored six goals through four matches this season.
Allows two goals in draw
Martinez registered three saves and allowed two goals in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Hull City.
Analysis: Martinez was both a hero and a problem in Chelsea's home draw with Hull. He made a strong low save to deny Ryan Giles early on and later produced a great close-range stop to keep out Oli McBurnie after pushing a weak Slater shot into danger. He also made an important save to deny Mohamed Ali Cho with the game still there to be won. However, he was beaten twice by Mohamed Belloumi, with the second goal coming after he failed to deal with a corner that Semi Ajayi had headed onto the bar. Martinez was brought in to add stability to a problem position, but the early signs suggest he may need more time to settle in. The goalkeeper is still waiting for his first clean sheet with his new side, with his next chance coming Friday against Brentford.
Makes eight saves in defeat
Martinez had eight saves and allowed two goals in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Arsenal.
Analysis: Martinez made eight saves in Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal, keeping Chelsea in the match throughout with multiple sharp stops before being beaten by Kai Havertz's strike and Martin Odegaard's second-half finish. The Argentine goalkeeper has now conceded five goals across his two Premier League appearances since arriving from Aston Villa with zero clean sheets. He heads into the Hull City fixture having made 12 saves across two matches, a workload that reflects Chelsea's defensive vulnerability more than any individual failing.
Makes four saves on debut
Martinez made four saves and allowed three goals in Sunday's 4-3 win over Brighton.
Analysis: Martinez was immediately handed the starting role after completing his move from Aston Villa earlier Sunday and produced four saves on his Chelsea debut. He made several important stops as Brighton created more opportunities after halftime, helping preserve Chelsea's advantage despite conceding three times. The experienced goalkeeper appears set to operate as Chelsea's No. 1 and now faces a notable trip to Arsenal in the next Premier League fixture.
Joins Chelsea
Martinez has completed a permanent move to Chelsea from Aston Villa, signing a three-year contract with the club.
Analysis: Martinez arrives at Chelsea after making 256 appearances across six seasons for Aston Villa and is expected to immediately take over as the club's first-choice goalkeeper. The 33-year-old brings considerable experience and a strong shot-stopping presence to the position, while his ability to command the penalty area should add stability at the back. Robert Sanchez and Mike Penders are expected to compete for the backup role behind Martinez, leaving the Argentine in line for regular starts as he begins his Chelsea career.
Unavailable amid Chelsea move
Martinez is out for Monday's Premier League clash against Arsenal as he prepares to complete a move from Aston Villa to Chelsea, according to The Athletic.
Analysis: Martinez will not feature against Arsenal on Monday, with his absence linked to his impending departure. The goalkeeper had already been training away from the main group while his future was being resolved, and his expected move to Chelsea now effectively ends his involvement with Villa. Zion Suzuki, who was brought in as Villa's new No. 1, is expected to start between the posts against Arsenal and take over the starting role moving forward.
Ruled out against Brighton
Martinez (undisclosed) is ruled out for Sunday's clash against Brighton.
Analysis: Martinez has been unable to earn a place in the squad despite training on his own with no further pain in his finger. His future at the club remains a hot topic amid transfer rumors surrounding a potential move away from Villa following the signing of Zion Suzuki, adding further uncertainty to a situation that remains unresolved heading into the new season. Marco Bizot is set to start between the posts in his absence, with Martinez's longer-term situation at the club expected to become clearer in the coming days as the transfer window continues.
Training separately Friday
Martinez is training on his own and has no pain in his finger as he works to catch up on fitness after returning a few days ago, although transfer rumours still linger, Jacob Tanswell reports.
Analysis: Martinez looks to be getting back to full fitness again after some time off following the World Cup and a finger injury, as the goalie is back training on his own with no more pain in his finger. However, the goalie's future remains a hot topic, as it appears he is set for a move out of Villa, especially after the signing of Zion Suzuki. The good news here is that whatever club he lands at, they should get him fit and ready to go.
Future uncertain despite training return
Martinez has resumed training at Bodymoor Heath after recovering from the injury he dealt with during the World Cup, though his long term future at the club remains unresolved, according to coach Unai Emery, per Birmingham Live. "We can share both. This scenario is a bad scenario? Not. We have two excellent keepers. We have signed Suzuki not for the future, but for now. He has shown his capacity and that he can play at our level. Martinez transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career, not just now and even last year, and he was thinking in case he had a possibility to change his challenges, but he stayed and performed fantastic. This year, again, he transmitted to us for a new challenge, and we signed Suzuki to replace him. But the scenario we have is that we have two great goalkeepers."
Analysis: Martinez has requested a new challenge this summer, a situation Emery confirmed also arose a year ago before Martinez ultimately stayed and performed well. That request prompted Villa to sign Zion Suzuki as a potential long term successor, even as a proposed move to Juventus for Martinez fell through earlier in the window. Martinez is expected to be included in Villa's squad for the season opener against Brighton now that he's back training, though his club future beyond this window remains genuinely unclear given the ongoing speculation.
Status unclear heading into new season
Martinez's transfer situation and unresolved finger injury, coupled with Villa's potential new goalkeeper signing, leave his status unclear heading into the new season.
Analysis: Martinez was left out of Aston Villa's Super Cup squad, with the club citing necessary rest as the reason. However, his situation is more complicated. His future has been uncertain all summer, with the closest possibility being a move to Juventus that ultimately fell through. Added to that is the ongoing issue with a finger injury he suffered in May. He chose to manage the injury rather than undergo immediate surgery, allowing him to play in the Europa League final and then carry the problem through Argentina's entire World Cup campaign. The situation remains unclear, but if he decides to undergo surgery, reports suggest he could be sidelined for around three months. Villa are now on the verge of signing Parma and Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, a move that could lead to Martinez losing his starting role. Suzuki is expected to compete for the No. 1 spot regardless of Martinez's situation. This leaves the 33-year-old facing an uncertain future, with his transfer options narrowed, potential surgery capable of sidelining him for three months, and no guarantee of remaining first choice even if he stays fit at Villa.
Won't face PSG in Super Cup
Martinez won't play in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup against PSG on Wednesday, according to manager Unai Emery.
Analysis: Martinez is one of three regulars who won't be playing Wednesday for the Midlands club, as Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins will also miss the match due to "completely necessary rest." Martinez was the regular starter between the posts for an Argentina side that lost the WC final to Spain on July 19, so he needs more rest before the start of the season. The idea is to have Martinez healthy, rested and ready to go for the Premier League opener against Brighton on Sunday, Aug. 23.
Beaten late in huge performance
Martinez had 11 saves and allowed one goal in Sunday's 1-0 loss to Spain.
Analysis: Martinez nearly kept Spain from lifting the World Cup trophy, repeatedly denying their attacks before Ferran Torres finally broke through in extra time. The Aston Villa goalkeeper had been far from this level of production during his previous outings, with the 11 saves against the champions more than doubling his total, going from nine to 20 saves in the entire competition. However, he kept only two clean sheets, both of which came in the initial pair of group-stage games.
Plays through pain at World Cup
Martinez revealed he has been in pain every day at the World Cup after fracturing his ring finger before the tournament, avoiding surgery despite specialist advice, according to Birmingham Live. "My hand still hurts every day, I knew it was going to be extremely painful, I avoided surgery, even though all the specialists I consulted in the United States and England told me I needed to have it."
Analysis: Martinez suffered the injury on May 20 warming up ahead of Villa's Europa League final win over Freiburg, taping up his finger to play through it before being sidelined for roughly a month, missing the Premier League season final win at Manchester City and Argentina's World Cup warmup matches. Despite the ongoing discomfort, he has continued playing through the tournament and said he has felt better since the round of 16, with his focus fully on Argentina's final against Spain on Sunday as he chases a second World Cup title.
Single save for win
Martinez registered one save and allowed one goal in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over England.
Analysis: Martinez only faced two shots on his net during Wednesday's win, and stopped one of them. Anthony Gordon beat him in second half, but Martinez calmed the team down and kept the game close before Argentina stormed back. Martinez will be tested against an outstanding Spain attack during the World Cup final.
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