By Emeka Blast 
Chelsea Add World Cup Winner and £68M Defender After Gittens Signing – Imagining Their Ideal XI if Transfers Materialise
Chelsea Football Club have made waves in the transfer market, reportedly securing the signatures of Aston Villa’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Benfica’s £68 million-rated Portuguese centre-back Tomas Araujo, following the £55.5m (€65m) acquisition of Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens. The blockbuster moves, detailed by Chelsea News and other sources, signal manager Enzo Maresca’s ambition to build a squad capable of challenging for Premier League and Champions League glory in the 2025-26 season. If additional transfer rumours materialize, Chelsea’s dream lineup could redefine their competitive edge.
Martinez, 33, who lifted the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, joins Chelsea for a reported £30m, bringing elite goalkeeping credentials after a stellar season at Aston Villa, where he kept 15 clean sheets in 38 Premier League matches. The move addresses Chelsea’s need for a commanding presence between the posts, with current keepers Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen facing scrutiny. Martinez, praised for his penalty-saving heroics and vocal leadership, is expected to provide stability and experience, though he will not feature in the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup due to his registration with Villa.
Araujo, a 22-year-old defensive prodigy, arrives from Benfica for £68m, a fee reflecting his status as one of Europe’s most promising centre-backs. Standing at 6ft 2in, Araujo’s composure, ball-playing ability, and aerial dominance make him a perfect fit for Maresca’s system, which emphasizes building from the back. His 42 appearances for Benfica in 2024-25, including eight in the Champions League, drew interest from Paris Saint-Germain, but Chelsea’s sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, secured the deal. Araujo, like Gittens, is cup-tied for the Club World Cup but will join post-tournament.
Gittens, the 20-year-old winger signed from Dortmund on a seven-year deal until 2032, adds flair to Chelsea’s attack with his 12 goals and five assists from last season. His high-speed dribbling (35.96km/h, 16th-fastest in the Bundesliga) and ability to play on either flank complement Maresca’s high-pressing, wing-focused tactics. Chelsea’s recent £60m signing of Brighton’s Joao Pedro, who is eligible for their Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras, further bolsters the attack, alongside Liam Delap and the incoming Estevao Willian.
If transfer rumours hold, Chelsea’s dream lineup for 2025-26 could feature Martinez in goal; a back four of Reece James, Araujo, Levi Colwill, and Malo Gusto; a midfield trio of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Cole Palmer; and an attacking trident of Gittens, Delap, and Pedro. Substitutes like Noni Madueke, Tyrique George, and Andrey Santos add depth, while potential exits of Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, and Joao Felix could fund further moves, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike and West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus linked as versatile forward options.
Chelsea’s transfer spree, backed by potential Club World Cup earnings of £40m to £97m, navigates Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) constraints. Maresca, fresh off a 4-1 Club World Cup win over Benfica, hailed the signings, saying, “We’re building a squad with youth and experience to compete on all fronts.” Fans on X erupted, with one post calling the Martinez-Araujo-Gittens trio “a game-changer for Chelsea’s title hopes.”
However, some rumours remain speculative. While Chelsea News floated Martinez and Araujo as targets, no official confirmation has emerged, and negotiations could hinge on outgoings like Jackson, valued at €55m-€60m. The club’s failure to land AC Milan’s Mike Maignan earlier this window underscores their pragmatic approach, with Martinez a more cost-effective choice. As Chelsea eye a centre-back, forward, and possibly another goalkeeper, their summer business signals a bold vision for domestic and European dominance.
