Emiliano Martínez, born on 2 September 1992 in Argentina, stands tall as a prodigious force between the goalposts. Currently at the ripe age of 32, he secures the posts for Aston Villa as an impressive goalkeeper. Measuring a formidable 6ft 4in (1.95m) and weighing in at 13st 5lb (85kg), Martínez proudly dons the number 1 jersey. Alongside his club commitments, he has often flown his country's flag high, representing Argentina at prestigious international fixtures.
According to recent estimates by Transfermarkt, Martinez's market value orbits around the £21m mark. He remains committed to Aston Villa until 2029, with his contract expiring on 30 June of the same year.
The crux of his footballing journey starts in 2011, when Martinez sealed a potent transfer deal with Arsenal, England's Premier League titan. Over his tenure at Arsenal, he took the pitch for the first team in numerous league matches: four appearances in the 2014-2015 season, two in the 2016-2017 season, and nine in the 2019-2020 season.
His career also saw a series of strategic loan moves, initiated with a transfer to Oxford United in England's Championship tier in May 2012. Subsequent loan periods brought him to Sheffield Wednesday in October 2013, Rotherham United in March 2015, and Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2015 - each within England's competitive footballing landscape. Each of these engagements saw Martínez diligently marking regular first-team appearances.
In August 2017, Martínez got an international taste, moving on loan to Getafe in Spain's LaLiga. Here he made five appearances for the first team. Following a brief stint at Reading in January 2019, where he made 18 appearances, Martinez was finally snapped up by Aston Villa in the English Premier League in September 2020 for a handsome transfer fee of approximately £17m.
Having claimed Villa's goalpost as his fortress since the 2020-2021 season, Martinez has made consistent appearances in league matches, reaching the heights of 38 appearances in his first season. His record of starts only slightly faltered in the subsequent seasons, yet remains commendable with Aston Villa.
Alongside his prominent club career, Martinez has also been an unyielding presence for Argentina in significant tournaments. This includes the World Cup Qualifiers South America 2024-2026, Copa America 2024 and even for Villa in the Conference League 2023-2024 and Champions League 2024-2025, making numerous starts on all fronts.
