Chelsea confirm Alejandro Garnacho transfer to Aston Villa as £42.5m loan clause explained
Alejandro Garnacho has left Chelsea to join Aston Villa on an initial season-long loan, which will become permanent at the end of the season upon the fulfilment of certain conditions.
Chelsea signed Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United during the summer of 2025(Image: Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Alejandro Garnacho has left Chelsea to join Aston Villa on an initial season-long loan. The 22-year-old winger, whom the Blues only signed from Manchester United for £40million last summer, will pen a four-year contract with Unai Emery’s side at the end of the season, subject to conditions in an obligation‑to‑buy clause worth £42.5m.
football.london understands that Garnacho, who was deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, was personally requested by the Aston Villa boss after losing Morgan Rogers to Chelsea. Although the conditions for making the deal permanent remain unclear, it’s said they’re easily achievable.
Speaking to club media, Emery expressed his delight with the move. The Aston Villa boss said: “We are delighted with Alejandro. He is so talented, young, and he showed us his wish to help our project. We are really happy.”
Garnacho will wear the number 17 shirt, which he wore towards the end of his spell at Old Trafford. The Argentine has inherited the jersey from Donyell Malen, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Roma before joining permanently earlier this summer.
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Aston Villa signed Garnacho just days after selling Rogers to Chelsea. The Blues forked out £117m for the 23-year-old attacking midfielder, making him the most expensive British player of all time.
Upon signing a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge, Rogers explained why he decided to join Chelsea. Speaking to club media, the England international said: “I’ve had a few conversations with (Xabi Alonso), and I think it’s important for me to be here that I need to understand what the manager’s like, how he is and how he wants to operate.
“It very much fits with the way I see the game, the way I want to play, and the way I want to be me, and be free and express myself. Him being a part of that was a massive factor in me being here.”
On reuniting with Cole Palmer, whom he played with in the Manchester City academy, Rogers said: “I’ve known Cole since I was about 14, first in the England (youth) teams and then when we were both at Man City together.
“We’ve been speaking about this for a while; we always would love to have played together. So, for it to happen, we’re both excited. He’s non-stop ringing my phone, texting me, and I can’t wait.
“I think that’s probably the most special thing, playing with one of your best friends and being around him every day. It’s something I’m really excited about.”
Rogers added: “He (Palmer) is so happy, he has never texted me that much in his life, he’s not great on his phone, he’s been great on his phone this week!
“He’s excited, which is really nice for me as well, to know that that means so much to someone else as well, for me to be here, so I am really looking forward to it, really excited.”
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