Aston Villa in advanced talks for Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho

By Rohan Gupta — 21 July 2026 — 5 min read

Aston Villa are reportedly in advanced discussions to sign Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho. The proposed deal is understood to be an initial loan with a potential obligation to buy, though the specifics are still being finalised. Chelsea had made the 21-year-old Argentina international available for a fee of £43m last month, but are open to a deal that could lead to a permanent departure, even if it begins as a temporary move.

This development follows a separate agreement between the two clubs, where Chelsea is set to acquire Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a record £117m. Discussions for Garnacho, and potentially striker Nicolas Jackson, who is valued at £65m, are part of a distinct deal that would see them move to Villa Park.

Details of the Proposed Transfer

The current proposal involves a loan deal, but Chelsea is keen on including a permanent transfer clause. Reports indicate that Chelsea is prepared to sell Garnacho for £42.7m in the current transfer window. Unai Emery, Aston Villa‘s manager, has expressed a strong interest in Garnacho, having previously shown interest before the winger joined Chelsea from Manchester United.

AS Roma has also shown interest in signing Garnacho, and there are other admirers in the Saudi Pro League. However, Aston Villa believes they have convinced the player to join their ranks. Garnacho has not returned for pre-season training, as he is seeking a resolution regarding his club future.

If the deal is finalised, Garnacho would become Aston Villa‘s fourth signing this summer. The club has already brought in Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes, and Modou Keba Cisse. Aston Villa has also seen significant player sales, with Youri Tielemans, Donyell Malen, Enzo Barrenechea, and Lewis Dobbin departing, generating nearly £200m.

Garnacho’s Impact and Future Role

Chelsea acquired Garnacho last September in a £40m deal from Manchester United, who would be entitled to 10 per cent of any eventual transfer fee. His time at Stamford Bridge has seen limited impact, with only one Premier League goal. The arrival of Morgan Rogers and Sporting winger Geovany Quenda has increased the need for Chelsea to reduce their squad size.

During his first season with Chelsea, Garnacho made 25 appearances in the Premier League, accumulating 1217 minutes on the pitch. This averages to less than 49 minutes per game. In comparison, Morgan Rogers played 1528 minutes and Emiliano Buendia played 1527 minutes in the same position for Aston Villa last season. Garnacho‘s five goal involvements meant he averaged one every 243 minutes, while Rogers had a goal involvement every 90 minutes and Buendia every 190 minutes.

Should Aston Villa sign Garnacho, it could necessitate a tactical adjustment in Unai Emery‘s system. While players like Buendia and Rogers offer versatility across the flanks and a tendency to move inside, Garnacho typically prefers to stay wide and hug the touchline. He has previously operated on the right flank, scoring a goal in an FA Cup final win for Manchester United from that position. This characteristic might require Emery to be flexible with his attacking strategies or for Garnacho to adapt his playing style.

Garnacho, who is 22 years old, joined Chelsea after struggling to secure a regular starting spot during the 2025-26 season, making 22 starts across all competitions, with 14 in the Premier League, and scoring eight goals. He is a graduate of Atletico Madrid‘s youth academy and scored 26 goals in 144 games for Manchester United. He has also made eight senior appearances for Argentina.

Financial Considerations and UEFA Rules

The structure of the deal, particularly the loan with a conditional obligation to buy, is significant due to UEFA‘s financial regulations. Aston Villa is currently under a settlement agreement with UEFA, which means any permanent signing from Chelsea within a 45-day window of the Rogers deal would be treated as a ‘player exchange transaction’. This would reduce Villa‘s profit from the Rogers transfer in UEFA‘s calculations.

A conditional loan could benefit both clubs by allowing the permanent transfer to occur outside the 45-day window, thus preserving Villa‘s full profit from the Rogers sale. Chelsea also needs to generate significant profits from player trading in 2026-27 due to their own UEFA settlement agreement. UEFA rules state that if a condition for a permanent transfer is considered ‘virtually certain’, the deal must be recognised as permanent from the start of the loan. However, if the fulfilment of the condition cannot be assessed with ‘sufficient certainty’, it can be recorded as a loan initially. The specific conditions for Garnacho‘s potential permanent move are not yet known.

Chelsea has been proactive in offloading players this summer, raising approximately £130m from sales including Marc Cucurella, Andrey Santos, and Tyrique George, in addition to compensation from Manchester City for Maresca. Other players like Nicolas Jackson and Trevoh Chalobah are also expected to depart, potentially bringing in another £100m. Malo Gusto is another player with an uncertain future, valued at £75m, while defenders Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi are also anticipated to leave. Chelsea aims to demonstrate financial sustainability following this transfer window, having entered a four-year settlement agreement with UEFA last summer for breaching regulations.

Garnacho was allowed by new manager Xabi Alonso to stay away from the start of Chelsea‘s pre-season training to facilitate a move away from the club.

Source: bbc.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter