Emiliano Martinez reverses Aston Villa exit decision after Emery talk

Emiliano Martinez is staying at Aston Villa. The Argentina goalkeeper had intended to leave this summer, but a personal conversation with head coach Unai Emery changed his mind and convinced him to remain in Birmingham. According to insider Nicolo Schira, Emery was the key figure in reversing Martinez's decision. The keeper has been with Villa since the fall of 2020, when he arrived from Arsenal. His current deal runs until the summer of 2029, and Transfermarkt values him at 12 million euros. In the 2025/26 season, Martinez made 44 appearances across all competitions, conceding 49 goals and keeping 13 clean sheets. This summer he was also Argentina's No.1 at the 2026 World Cup, playing all eight matches as his side reached the final, where they lost 0-1 to Spain.