LONDON — Chelsea have pulled off the shock move of deadline weekend with new signing Emi Martinez going straight into the starting XI for his debut against Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, just hours after completing his move from Aston Villa.
The Argentine World Cup winner, 33, was confirmed as a Chelsea player at 11:00am on Sunday morning in a deal worth a reported £35m plus add-ons, with Aston Villa moving quickly to replace him with Portugal international Diogo Costa. Martinez had been left out of Villa's 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend amid intense speculation.
Xabi Alonso has shown no hesitation. Martinez replaces Robert Sanchez, who started both the 3-2 win at Fulham and the 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Luton Town but endured a difficult afternoon at Craven Cottage where he was at fault for Gonzalo Garcia's equaliser.
It headlines five changes from the side that beat Fulham on opening weekend as Alonso makes his home Premier League debut.
Wesley Fofana returns from suspension to start in the back three, with new £45m signing Maxence Lacroix, signed from Crystal Palace earlier this month, making his full Premier League debut for Chelsea alongside captain Levi Colwill. Malo Gusto moves to a more advanced wing-back role.
In midfield, Romeo Lavia makes his first Premier League start in 18 months after overcoming his long-term hamstring issues, partnering Gusto centrally in a double pivot that sees Moises Caicedo, fit again after a calf strain, surprisingly only fit enough for the bench against his former club.
There is a reshuffle in attack too. Pedro Neto, who started as a wing-back at Fulham, is pushed higher into a right wing-back role, while Jorrel Hato, the versatile 19-year-old signed from Ajax, starts at left wing-back.
Morgan Rogers keeps his place after his debut goal at Fulham, with Cole Palmer fit to start as the No.10 after shrugging off his pre-season groin problem, and Joao Pedro leading the line as the central striker after his record-fast 31-second opener last week.
Enzo Fernandez is again absent from the squad entirely amid ongoing talks with Manchester City, while Danny Welbeck, who scored on his debut against Luton in midweek after his surprise move from Brighton, is among the substitutes and will face his former club from the bench.
Confirmed Chelsea lineup (3-4-2-1): Martinez; Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill (c); Neto, Gusto, Lavia, Hato; Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro.
Substitutes: Penders, James, Acheampong, Chavarria, Caicedo, Barco, Gittens, Estevao Willian, Welbeck.
