Emiliano Martinez is set to make his Chelsea debut after signing from Aston Villa for £7.5m. The club announced the transfer on Sunday morning, just ahead of their match against Brighton at Stamford Bridge.

Despite some confusion surrounding the timing of the deal and the Premier League deadline, Martinez has been included in the starting lineup. Mike Penders, who played against Luton in the Carabao Cup, will be on the bench, while Robert Sanchez has been omitted from the squad due to his recent performance issues, leaving his future uncertain as the deadline approaches on Tuesday.

Xabi Alonso has also made the decision to exclude Enzo Fernandez from the matchday squad, with the midfielder's potential move to Manchester City still under discussion. Chelsea's valuation of £120m remains a sticking point in negotiations. Additionally, Moises Caicedo continues to recover from an injury, leading Alonso to field Malo Gusto alongside Romeo Lavia in midfield.

After securing his move, Martinez expressed his excitement:

"I’m delighted to be at this football club. Coming to Chelsea was an easy decision for me and my family. I want to be successful here and bring that winning mentality to the club. I will give 100% every game to make the club, my teammates, and the supporters proud."

Chelsea's starting XI against Brighton includes: Martinez; Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill (c); Neto, Gusto, Lavia, Hato; Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro.