Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero

Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero is an Argentine goalkeeper born in Mar del Plata on 2 September 1992. He developed at Independiente before joining Arsenal as a teenager, beginning a long apprenticeship in English football. Arsenal loaned him to Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Reading and Getafe, giving him experience across English divisions and La Liga. Martínez finally established himself in Arsenal’s first team during the 2019–20 campaign, stepping in after Bernd Leno’s injury and helping the club win the FA Cup. In September 2020, he moved to Aston Villa, where his commanding goalkeeping and shot-stopping quickly made him a regular. He made his Argentina debut in 2021, then helped the national team win the Copa América, FIFA World Cup and another Copa América in 2021, 2022 and 2024, respectively. Renowned for penalty-save interventions and an assertive presence, Martínez has become a central figure for both Aston Villa and Argentina.