Emiliano Martinez
Six seasons in Villa's goal, a Europa League and a record for clean sheets.
Damian Emiliano Martinez, known as Dibu, is an Argentine goalkeeper born on 2 September 1992 who played for Aston Villa from September 2020 to August 2026 before joining Chelsea. Renowned for saving penalties, he arrived from Arsenal for a fee of up to 20 million pounds, equalled Brad Friedel's club record of 15 Premier League clean sheets in his first season and was Villa's Supporters' Player of the Season.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero
- Born
- 2 September 1992
- Birthplace
- Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Height
- 1.95 m / 6 ft 5 in
- Position
- Goalkeeper
- Current club
- Chelsea
Reader's Guide
He made his Villa debut on 21 September 2020, saving a John Lundstram penalty in a 1-0 home win over Sheffield United. A three-year extension followed in January 2022, he was named a vice-captain alongside Diego Carlos that July, and his 100th Premier League appearance, a 2-0 win at Chelsea on 1 April 2023, brought a 34th clean sheet that broke the club record for a goalkeeper's first 100 games. In April 2024 he saved two penalties in the shoot-out against Lille that took Villa to the Conference League semi-finals; he then switched from the number 1 to the 23 he wears for Argentina, signed a contract to 2029 in August 2024 and won the Premier League Save of the Month for December 2024.
Unai Emery removed his vice-captaincy in November 2025, giving it to Ezri Konsa. He started the 2026 Europa League final on 20 May 2026, which Villa won 3-0 against SC Freiburg, and on 30 August 2026 signed for Chelsea for 7.5 million pounds. For Argentina he has won the 2021 and 2024 Copa America, the 2022 World Cup, two Best FIFA Goalkeeper awards and two Yashin Trophies.
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