Ultrasonic　surface　wave　electromagnetic　acoustic　transducers　(EMATs)　have　been　widely　utilized　in　detecting　surface　defects　of　metal　materials　due　to　their　noncontact　advantages.　However,　the　signal　energy　of　surface　wave　EMAT　is　weak,　mainly　influenced　by　energy　conversion　efficiency.　Increasing　the　number　of　excitation　signal　cycles　can　enhance　the　signal　energy,　but　it　leads　to　longer　pulsewidth　and　reduced　time-domain　resolution.　Meanwhile,　most　of　the　existing　studies　excite　surface　waves　with　a　single　frequency,　and　the　frequency　information　components　are　limited.　To　overcome　these　issues,　wideband　signal　is　introduced　into　the　design　of　surface　wave　EMAT　and　combined　with　pulse　compression　technique　to　obtain　surface　wave　signals　with　wideband,　high　amplitude,　and　narrow　pulsewidth.　In　this　article,　a　new　wideband　pulse　compression　surface　wave　EMAT　(WPCSW-EMAT)　is　proposed.　WPCSW-EMAT　replaces　the　single　frequency　signal　in　conventional　EMAT　with　a　linear　frequency　modulation　(LFM)　signal.　Additionally,　the　equal　meander-line　coil　is　replaced　by　a　variable　distance　meander-line　coil,　where　the　distance　between　adjacent　wires　matches　the　frequency　change　of　the　LFM　signal.　Finite　element　simulation　results　demonstrate　that　compared　to　conventional　EMAT,　WPCSW-EMAT　can　obtain　pulse　compression　surface　wave　signals　with　wideband　frequency,　high　amplitude,　and　narrow　pulsewidth.　The　performance　verification　experiment　and　defect　detection　experiment　of　EMAT　were　carried　out　on　aluminum　plate　samples,　and　the　experimental　results　indicate　that　the　WPCSW　signal　excited　by　WPCSW-EMAT　is　more　suitable　for　nondestructive　testing　of　metal　materials.