Josep Martinez in 2026: Net Worth and Salary, Contract, Transfer Value, Accident, and FAQs

Josep Martinez is a talented Spanish goalkeeper whose 2025/26 season was marked by one of the most tragic and difficult events any footballer can experience away from the pitch. The Inter Milan number two, a La Masia graduate who worked his way up through Las Palmas, RB Leipzig and Genoa, was involved in a fatal road accident in October 2025 that resulted in the death of an 81 year old man. Handling the human weight of that event while continuing his professional career has defined his recent months. In this 2026 deep dive we look at his career, his earnings, his contract, his transfer value and the accident, approached carefully and factually, along with all the questions fans keep typing into Google and AI search tools.

Josep Martinez Profile

Who is Josep Martinez?

Josep Martinez Riera is a 27 year old Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Inter Milan. He stands at 1.91 metres tall and is known for his shot stopping, his composure in possession and his strong distribution, qualities that fit well with the modern demands placed on goalkeepers who are expected to play out from the back. He has been the second choice goalkeeper at Inter behind the experienced Swiss international Yann Sommer since joining the club in the summer of 2024, and has also earned one senior cap for the Spain national team.

He was born on 27 May 1998 in Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands of Spain. His footballing education began at Barcelona's famous La Masia academy, one of the most prestigious youth setups in world football, before his career took him through Spain, Germany and Italy. His journey to Inter Milan is a story of steady, patient development across three different European leagues rather than an overnight rise, and by the age of 27 he had established himself as a reliable top level goalkeeper at one of Italy's biggest clubs.

Josep Martinez Career Journey

Josep started his football education at Barcelona's La Masia academy, the youth setup that has produced some of the greatest players in football history. He did not break through into the Barcelona senior setup, and in 2017 he moved to UD Las Palmas, the club from his home city in the Canary Islands, where he began his senior professional career. His performances in Spain attracted attention from Germany, and in 2020 RB Leipzig signed him to add to their goalkeeping department in the Bundesliga.

His time at Leipzig was limited in terms of first team opportunities, and he moved to Italy to join Genoa, initially on loan and then permanently for a reported 3.5 million euros in July 2023. At Genoa he finally established himself as a genuine first choice goalkeeper in a major European league, producing consistent performances across the 2023/24 Serie A season that made him one of the more highly rated goalkeepers in Italian football. His form earned him a move to one of Serie A's giants.

On 9 July 2024 Inter Milan signed him from Genoa for a reported fee of around 13.5 million euros, bringing him in as the long term successor to Yann Sommer and the second choice goalkeeper in the meantime. Across his time at Inter he has made just over a dozen appearances, playing a supporting role behind Sommer while gaining experience at a club competing for the Serie A title and in the Champions League. In the 2025/26 season, under coach Cristian Chivu, he was given the first choice role in the Coppa Italia and produced a strong performance in the semi final victory over Como, showing the quality that made Inter invest in him.

Josep Martinez Accident

On the morning of 28 October 2025, Josep Martinez was involved in a tragic road accident that resulted in the death of an 81 year old man. The incident occurred in Fenegro, in the province of Como in northern Italy, as Martinez was driving to Inter's training centre at Appiano Gentile. According to Italian police statements reported by Reuters, the man was travelling in an electric wheelchair on a cycle path alongside the road when the wheelchair appeared to veer into the path of the vehicle Martinez was driving.

Police and early investigations suggested that the elderly man may have suffered a sudden medical episode, which caused him to move unexpectedly into the roadway just as the car was passing. Martinez immediately stopped his car and, along with other motorists, tried to help the man. Emergency services including an air ambulance responded quickly, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Martinez himself was uninjured but was described as being in shock. Inter Milan cancelled a scheduled press conference as a mark of respect and expressed their sorrow and condolences to the victim's family.

As is standard procedure under Italian law in any incident of this nature, Martinez was placed formally under investigation. By December 2025, reporting from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicated that the findings from the magistrates significantly reduced the likelihood of criminal responsibility on the part of the goalkeeper, given the circumstances suggesting the wheelchair had veered into the road. The event understandably affected Martinez deeply on a personal level, and both the player and the club approached his gradual return to normal life and football with care and sensitivity. Icon Polls notes that this was first and foremost a human tragedy for the family of the man who died, and the football elements of the story are secondary to that loss.

Josep Martinez Contract

Josep Martinez signed a contract with Inter Milan upon joining the club in July 2024 that runs until 30 June 2029. That five year deal reflects Inter's long term planning for the goalkeeper position, with Martinez brought in at 26 years old as the intended successor to Yann Sommer, who is in the later stage of his career. The length of the contract gives Inter security over the position and gives Martinez the stability to develop into the first choice role over time.

His future at the club has been the subject of some speculation given his limited first team opportunities behind Sommer, with just three Serie A starts in the 2025/26 season. However, coach Cristian Chivu's decision to trust him as the first choice in the Coppa Italia and his strong performances in that competition suggested a growing relationship between player and coach. Icon Polls considers the 2026/27 season, when Sommer's own future will come more sharply into focus given his age, as the potential turning point where Martinez could finally step into the number one role his contract until 2029 was designed to accommodate.

Josep Martinez Transfer Value

Josep Martinez's transfer value in 2026 sits at between 7.4 and 8.8 million euros according to major transfer data platforms. That figure reflects his age at 27, his status as a second choice goalkeeper rather than a regular starter, and the fact that goalkeeper valuations tend to be more conservative than those of outfield players in the same age and quality bracket. It represents a decline from the 13.5 million euros Inter paid Genoa for him in 2024, which is a natural consequence of limited playing time rather than any drop in his underlying ability.

His transfer history shows steady value growth followed by the typical market adjustment that comes with a backup role. Genoa signed him permanently for 3.5 million euros in 2023, and Inter paid 13.5 million euros just one year later after his impressive first choice season in Serie A. If he is able to establish himself as Inter's number one during the remaining years of his contract, or if he moves to a club where he would be first choice, his transfer value would likely recover significantly given his proven quality when playing regularly. Icon Polls considers his current valuation a reflection of circumstance rather than ceiling.

Josep Martinez Net Worth and Salary in 2026

Icon Polls estimates that Josep Martinez's net worth in 2026 sits between 8 million and 12 million euros. That figure reflects his professional earnings across Las Palmas, RB Leipzig, Genoa and now Inter Milan, the financial benefit of the transfers involved in his career including the 13.5 million euro move to Inter, his current five year Inter contract running until June 2029, his Spain national team involvement, his commercial and sponsorship activity and the financial management across a professional career now spanning almost a decade at the senior level.

His exact Inter Milan weekly wage has not been officially published, but as a goalkeeper at one of Italy's biggest clubs on a five year contract, he would be on solid Serie A goalkeeper terms appropriate to a senior squad member at a Champions League club. His earning power would increase notably if he steps into the first choice role, as number one goalkeepers at elite clubs command higher wages than their deputies. His net worth will continue to grow across the remaining years of his Inter contract.

Frequently Asked Questions About Josep Martinez

1. How old is Josep Martinez in 2026?

He is 27 years old in 2026. He was born on 27 May 1998 and will turn 28 in May 2026.

2. Where was Josep Martinez born?

He was born in Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands of Spain, on 27 May 1998.

3. What is Josep Martinez's full name?

His full name is Josep Martinez Riera.

4. What nationality is Josep Martinez?

He is Spanish. He has earned one senior cap for the Spain national team.

5. What position does Josep Martinez play?

He plays as a goalkeeper. He is 1.91 metres tall and is known for his shot stopping, his composure in possession and his distribution.

6. Which club does Josep Martinez play for?

He plays for Inter Milan in Serie A, where he has been the second choice goalkeeper behind Yann Sommer since joining in July 2024.

7. How tall is Josep Martinez?

He stands at about 6 feet 3 inches tall, which is roughly 1.91 metres.

8. What is Josep Martinez's net worth in 2026?

Icon Polls estimates his net worth is between 8 million and 12 million euros in 2026.

9. What is Josep Martinez's transfer value?

His transfer value sits at between 7.4 and 8.8 million euros depending on the data source, reflecting his age and his role as a backup goalkeeper rather than a regular starter.

10. When does Josep Martinez's Inter contract expire?

His Inter Milan contract expires on 30 June 2029.

11. How much did Inter Milan pay for Josep Martinez?

Inter Milan signed him from Genoa on 9 July 2024 for a reported fee of around 13.5 million euros.

12. Did Josep Martinez play for Barcelona?

He came through Barcelona's La Masia academy as a youth player but did not break into the senior first team. He left to begin his senior career at Las Palmas in 2017.

13. Did Josep Martinez play for RB Leipzig?

Yes. RB Leipzig signed him in 2020, though his first team opportunities in the Bundesliga were limited before he moved to Italy to join Genoa.

14. Did Josep Martinez play for Genoa?

Yes. He joined Genoa, initially on loan and then permanently for a reported 3.5 million euros in July 2023. He established himself as a first choice goalkeeper in Serie A there, which earned him his move to Inter Milan.

15. What happened in Josep Martinez's accident?

On 28 October 2025, Martinez was involved in a fatal road accident in Fenegro, in the province of Como, while driving to Inter's training centre. His car struck an 81 year old man who was travelling in an electric wheelchair on a cycle path. According to police, the wheelchair appeared to veer into the road, possibly because the man suffered a sudden medical episode. The man died at the scene.

16. Was Josep Martinez charged over the accident?

As is standard procedure under Italian law, Martinez was formally placed under investigation. By December 2025, reporting from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicated that findings from the magistrates significantly reduced the likelihood of criminal responsibility, given the circumstances suggesting the wheelchair veered into the road.

17. Did Josep Martinez try to help the man in the accident?

Yes. According to police statements reported by Reuters and other outlets, Martinez immediately stopped his car and, along with other motorists, tried to help the man before emergency services arrived. He was uninjured but described as being in shock.

18. Has Josep Martinez played for Spain?

Yes. He has earned one senior cap for the Spain national team, which came in 2021.

19. Is Josep Martinez Inter's first choice goalkeeper?

No. He has been the second choice goalkeeper behind Yann Sommer since joining Inter in 2024. However, coach Cristian Chivu made him the first choice in the Coppa Italia during the 2025/26 season, where he produced strong performances.

20. Who is ahead of Josep Martinez at Inter Milan?

The experienced Swiss international Yann Sommer has been Inter's first choice goalkeeper ahead of Martinez. Martinez was signed as the intended long term successor to Sommer, who is in the later stage of his career.

21. How many appearances has Josep Martinez made for Inter?

He has made just over a dozen appearances for Inter Milan across all competitions since joining in July 2024, playing a supporting role behind Yann Sommer.

22. Is Josep Martinez married or does he have a girlfriend?

He has kept his personal life private throughout his career. There is no publicly confirmed partner at the time of writing.

23. What religion does Josep Martinez practise?

He is understood to be a Christian, consistent with his Spanish family background, where Roman Catholicism is the majority religious tradition.

24. Where did Josep Martinez start his career?

He came through Barcelona's La Masia academy as a youth before starting his senior professional career at UD Las Palmas, the club from his home city in the Canary Islands, in 2017.

Josep Martinez's story in 2026 cannot be told without acknowledging the human tragedy at its centre. The death of an 81 year old man in the October 2025 accident is a loss that sits far above any football consideration, and the way both Martinez and Inter Milan handled the aftermath with restraint and respect reflected an understanding of that. On a professional level, Martinez remains a talented goalkeeper with a contract at one of Italy's biggest clubs until 2029, a proven track record as a first choice in Serie A during his Genoa years, and the quality to eventually claim the number one role at Inter.

With his contract running until June 2029 and Cristian Chivu showing growing trust in him, Icon Polls will continue to follow the next chapters of a goalkeeper whose career and personal life have both been tested in ways few footballers ever experience. How he rebuilds and moves forward, both as a professional and as a person, will be a story followed with care by football fans across Spain, Italy and beyond.