Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero (born 2 September 1992) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Argentina national team.
Martínez trained at Independiente’s youth ranks before moving to Arsenal in 2010. At Arsenal, he served as understudy, being loaned to various English clubs, before breaking into the starting line-up in 2019, helping them win a FA Cup and FA Community Shield. In September 2020, Martínez moved to fellow Premier League club Aston Villa in a transfer worth £20 million. In his first season at the club, he kept a club record 15 clean sheets in the Premier League.
Martínez is a former Argentina youth international, representing his country at under-17, and under-20 levels. He earned his first cap for the senior national team in 2021, helping his nation win the 2021 Copa América, while winning the Golden Glove for the latter, keeping a clean sheet in the final.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 2 September 1992[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Mar del Plata, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
|
Current team
|
Aston Villa | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2010 | Independiente | ||
| 2010–2012 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2020 | Arsenal | 15 | (0) |
| 2012 | → Oxford United (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2015 | → Rotherham United (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Getafe (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2019 | → Reading (loan) | 18 | (0) |
| 2020– | Aston Villa | 74 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2009 | Argentina U17 | 2 | (0) |
| 2009–2011 | Argentina U20 | 5 | (0) |
| 2021– | Argentina | 17 | (0) |
