Alejandro Garnacho did not report for pre-season duty at Chelsea. The 22-year-old winger had been told he was not guaranteed regular playing time under new manager Xabi Alonso, and it was agreed he would stay away from the training ground while his departure was finalised. On Thursday, Aston Villa confirmed Garnacho had joined them on a season-long loan that includes a conditional obligation to buy.
The deal follows the £117m transfer of Morgan Rogers from Villa to Stamford Bridge earlier this week – a club-record sale for Villa that triggered a swift move for Garnacho. Chelsea signed the Argentine last August from Manchester United for £40m, and Villa are expected to pay a similar fee to make the move permanent next summer should certain criteria be met. Chelsea believe the terms are easily reachable and will achieve their original £43m valuation.
“Alejandro Garnacho joins Aston Villa on loan with obligation to buy, following Morgan Rogers' £117m Chelsea move.”
Garnacho, an eight-cap Argentina international, struggled to impress at Stamford Bridge despite making 43 appearances in all competitions and scoring eight goals. He was named in Argentina's initial 55-man selection for this summer's World Cup but missed out on the final squad. His departure reduces Chelsea's squad after the arrivals of Rogers and Sporting winger Geovany Quenda.
“We are delighted with Alejandro,” Villa head coach Unai Emery said. “He is so talented, young and he showed us his wish to help our project. We are really happy.” Garnacho has agreed a four-year contract with Villa, should the loan become permanent.
Villa’s player sales this summer total nearly £200m, with Youri Tielemans, Donyell Malen, Enzo Barrenechea and Lewis Dobbin also leaving. The club have been active in the market, signing Garnacho as their fourth arrival after Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes and Modou Keba Cisse. The loan-with-obligation structure gives Villa financial control as they navigate the Premier League's and Uefa's financial fair play rules. Earlier this summer, Uefa imposed a partially suspended £19.4m fine on Villa for a “significant breach” of squad-cost rules, with £12.9m suspended pending a reduction in their squad-cost ratio.
Garnacho becomes the latest player to move between the two clubs, following Carney Chukwuemeka and Omari Kellyman’s sales to Chelsea, Ian Maatsen’s move in the opposite direction, and Axel Disasi’s loan to Villa last season. Jadon Sancho also spent last season on loan at Villa from United but was not signed after becoming a free agent.
What does this mean for Emery’s attack? Garnacho arrives with more promise than pedigree, but the Villa boss has shown faith in the former United man as he rebuilds a squad that will play Champions League football next season – albeit under Uefa restrictions on new player registrations.