Aston Villa have been hit with a €22.5m (£19.4m) fine by Uefa for a “significant breach” of its squad-cost rule for 2025, the second successive season the club has been penalised. The punishment, announced on Tuesday, also brings a restriction on registering new players for next season’s Champions League.
Three other Premier League clubs were fined alongside Villa: Chelsea must pay €3m (£2.6m), Nottingham Forest €2.5m (£2.2m), and Newcastle United €3m (£2.6m) plus an additional €10m (£8.6m) for overshooting Uefa’s football earnings threshold. Newcastle’s settlement came after the club posted a £34.7m profit by selling the leasehold to St James’ Park to a subsidiary company, while Chelsea sold Mathis Amougou to Strasbourg for £12m and Villa sold their women’s team – moves that were admissible under Premier League rules but not under Uefa’s.
“Aston Villa fined €22.5m by Uefa for significant squad-cost breach; goalkeeper Emi Martinez could be sold to ease financial pressures.”
Most of Villa’s fine – €15m (£12.9m) – is suspended, dependent on the club continuing to reduce its squad-cost ratio in 2026, effectively rolling over a similar suspended penalty from July 2025 when Villa were fined €11m (£9.5m). Chelsea, who were fined €31m (£26.7m) last summer, said in a statement that Uefa had “recognised the improving trend” in their spending and that the 70% threshold was “narrowly exceeded”.
The fines highlight the challenge clubs face juggling different rules: Uefa reduced its squad-cost limit from 80% to 70% of income last season, while the Premier League’s own variation – allowing non-European clubs to spend up to 85% – kicks in this week. “It shows the difficulties of complying with different rules across two competitions,” the BBC reported.
For Villa, the financial strain comes as uncertainty surrounds goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The 33-year-old, who joined from Arsenal for £17m in 2020 and helped Villa end a 30-year wait for silverware by winning the Europa League last month, could still depart this year. Villa have been open to letting him leave to trim the wage bill and reduce the squad’s average age while also aiding compliance with Premier League profit and sustainability regulations. Manager Unai Emery’s transfer priorities – a winger, right-back, striker and midfielder – would be supported by a sale.
Martinez, currently at the World Cup with Argentina attempting to win the tournament for the second time, spoke last month about a failed move to Manchester United last summer. “Sometimes football can change; managers can come in and go,” he said. “I have a commitment with Aston Villa. I am a World Cup winner with Aston Villa. I will always and forever love this club.” But Juventus are keen, and Villa have already lined up replacements: Manchester City’s James Trafford, 23, Real Sociedad’s Alex Remiro, 31, and Parma’s Zion Suzuki, 23, are on the radar. Whether Martinez remains Villa’s No 1 may depend on whether the club’s finances can keep pace with their ambitions.