Chelsea were leading Everton 1-0 in their Premier League match when a free-kick delivery into the box led to a sickening clash of heads between goalkeeper Emi Martinez and Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite.
The Argentine, who had only recently joined the Blues from Aston Villa rushed off his line to punch the ball clear. Branthwaite, the England centre-back was challenging for the same ball. Their heads collided with force, and both players went down. After this incident there was a delay as that stopped the match.
Prayers for Emi Martínez 🙏💙 https://t.co/HJBZFPpn2E
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) October 17, 2026
Medical staff from both sides ran onto the pitch and play was stopped for around nine or ten minutes while Martinez received treatment. He was fitted with a neck brace and given oxygen. Branthwaite was able to get back to his feet quickly, underwent concussion checks on the pitch, and was cleared to continue. Martinez stayed down longer and eventually he was carefully moved onto a stretcher and carried from the field. Reports confirmed he was being taken to hospital for further assessment.
Chelsea await scan results after Emi Martinez suffers Head Collision
The footage of the incident went viral but the positive signs even in the difficult moment was Martinez appeared conscious as he left the pitch. He was moving his arms, and some accounts mentioned him giving a thumbs-up. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso later confirmed that the goalkeeper left the stadium conscious and was undergoing precautionary tests at a local hospital. That update offered some hope to the fans, though the full extent of any injury will only become clear once those tests are complete.
The incident overshadowed what was a solid afternoon for Chelsea. Pedro Neto had given them the lead early in the second half, and he later scored a second goal to seal a 2-0 victory. Young Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders came on to replace Martinez and made his Premier League debut, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to appear for the club in the competition. He helped the side keep a clean sheet in the remaining time, with extra injury time added because of the stoppage.
Emi Martinez has built a reputation as a big-game goalkeeper. His performances for Argentina, including the 2022 World Cup, and his years at Aston Villa made him one of the more popular goal keepers in the Premier League. At 34 he remains a key figure for Chelsea under Alonso. The club will now wait on the results of the hospital checks before deciding the next steps. Concussion protocols typically require a period of rest and gradual return even when scans come back clear.
