Aston Villa are preparing a formal bid for Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser after Emiliano Martínez agreed a move to Juventus, targeting a young, Ligue 1-proven shot-stopper as a direct replacement. Villa have tracked Risser’s rapid rise — Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year and Team of the Season — but Lens are keen to retain their 21-year-old, setting up a tense transfer negotiation this summer.
Aston Villa to bid for Robin Risser after Emiliano Martínez exit
Aston Villa face a swift goalkeeper rebuild after Emiliano Martínez reached agreement to join Juventus. The club has identified Lens’s Robin Risser as a primary target and is preparing to launch an offer to secure the 21-year-old's services from Ligue 1.
Risser’s profile has attracted attention across Europe: he was voted Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year and included in the division’s Team of the Season after a breakthrough campaign. Villa view him as a long-term successor with top-level experience despite his youth.
Why Villa need a solution now
Martínez’s departure leaves a clear and urgent void at Aston Villa. The Argentina international has been Villa’s number one since 2020, delivering major trophies and individual honours. Replacing his presence, leadership and shot-stopping will be Villa’s priority this window.
Appointing a new keeper early in preseason matters for Unai Emery’s tactical preparation and dressing-room stability. Villa’s decision to target a proven young keeper rather than an older stopgap signals ambition to blend immediate quality with future resale value.
What Robin Risser offers
Risser combines modern goalkeeper traits — command of his box, strong shot-stopping and composure with the ball — with a rapid developmental trajectory. His performances in Ligue 1 earned individual accolades, and his inclusion in France’s World Cup squad, even as third choice, underscores national recognition.
At 21 and only one season into his Lens tenure after a move from Strasbourg, Risser represents both upside and risk: high reward if he adapts quickly to the Premier League’s intensity, but limited top-flight experience compared with Martínez.
Lens’s likely stance and transfer hurdles
Lens are expected to resist losing their young keeper. They invested to acquire Risser last summer and will weigh sporting and financial factors before negotiating. Any move will depend on Villa’s fee, Lens’s willingness to sell, and Risser’s appetite for a step up to the Premier League.
Contract length, personal terms and Champions League or European ambitions could all influence the outcome. Villa may need to present a competitive package to persuade Lens to part with a prized asset.
How this shapes Villa’s season
If Villa secure Risser, they lock in a goalkeeper with significant upside who can be moulded within Emery’s system. That continuity — replacing a World Cup winner with a player accustomed to distribution and proactive goalkeeping — would ease the transition.
If the deal stalls, Villa will have to broaden their search for experienced alternatives, which could affect recruitment strategy and wage structure. Either path will be decisive for Villa’s defensive stability next season.
Outlook and what to watch
Watch for a formal bid from Villa and Lens’s response in the coming days. Key indicators will be reported fee figures, whether Villa pursue Risser as a direct replacement or as part of a wider goalkeeping recruitment, and how quickly personal terms are agreed.
This transfer window will test Villa’s ability to replace a club icon while maintaining upward momentum in the Premier League.
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Choosing a young, decorated keeper like Risser would be an assertive, forward-thinking move — provided he can make the leap to England’s top flight.
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