Chelsea and Aston Villa’s Transfer Ties Draw Attention Amid Manager’s Comments
In a revealing statement, Unai Emery has remarked on the strained relationship between Chelsea and Aston Villa, expressing that there are no “good relations” between the two clubs despite multiple player transactions. His comments follow the recent transfer of Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez joining Chelsea, marking the eighth transfer between the two clubs in the last four years.
Martinez’s move comes on the heels of Nicolas Jackson’s transfer to Aston Villa that occurred last week. Over the past four years, no two Premier League clubs have exchanged more players, whether through permanent or loan agreements.
Emery articulated that any relationship between Chelsea and Aston Villa exists solely in the context of financial deals. He stated, “Good relations? They want to kill us and we want to kill them!” Adding, “We have good players and we can sign one player off them; it’s not a good relationship – it’s a deal for money and a deal for players.”
This ongoing exchange of players commenced when Chelsea’s current ownership group, BlueCo, acquired the club in 2022. The first notable deal was for Carney Chukwuemeka, who moved from Villa to Chelsea for £20 million. Since then, transfers have included Ian Maatsen (£37.5 million to Villa), Omari Kellyman (£19 million to Chelsea), and Axel Disasi (a loan to Villa for £5 million).
The current summer transfer window has also witnessed a surge in activity between the clubs, with Morgan Rogers transferring to Chelsea for £117 million, while Alejandro Garnacho joined Villa on loan with a conditional obligation for a deal valued around £43 million. Following these transactions, Jackson’s £65 million move to Villa and subsequently Martinez’s transfer to Chelsea occurred.
From 2022 onward, Chelsea has disbursed £163.5 million to Villa for players, while Villa has spent £102.5 million on Chelsea’s players, including Disasi’s loan fee. This total could escalate to £150.5 million if certain conditions are fulfilled to finalize Garnacho’s loan.
The trend of trades between Chelsea and Villa has drawn attention from other clubs in the Premier League, especially given recent financial regulations both clubs are navigating. Although questions have arisen among club executives regarding the frequency of these transactions, there is no indication that either club has violated any rules.
Additionally, historical transfers have included notable players like Tammy Abraham, Ross Barkley, and John Terry, who made the switch from Chelsea to Villa. The recent surge in deals is particularly noteworthy in the context of the parties involved.
The close bond between Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali and Villa owner Nassef Sawiris has facilitated direct communication regarding transfers. Notably, Chelsea faced competition from Arsenal for Rogers, yet he ultimately chose Stamford Bridge.
While Uefa maintains the ability to examine transfers between the same clubs within a limited timeframe, the timing of recent moves isn’t in itself proof of any collusion. Villa’s interest in Jackson has long been established, stemming from his previous connection with Emery at Villarreal. Chelsea’s pursuit of Martinez reportedly proceeded independently of other dealings, particularly considering prior interest from Juventus.
In light of the Premier League’s financial dynamics, domestic transfers are increasingly appealing—largely due to the greater financial flexibility within England’s top division. Such conditions can make transfers with fellow Premier League clubs particularly favorable when attempting to offload high-value players. While player exchanges between Chelsea and Villa are common, the recent high volume raises eyebrows among observers in the league.
Unai Emery has insisted that there are no “good relations” between Chelsea and Aston Villa after a series of transfers between the clubs.
On Sunday Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez joined Chelsea from Villa, completing the eighth deal between them in the past four years.
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Martinez’s move to Chelsea comes after Nicolas Jackson’s transfer the other way last week.
No two Premier League clubs have exchanged more players, on permanent or loan deals, in the past four years.
But Villa boss Emery said the relationship between the two clubs is “only through the deals for money”.
“Good relations?” he said. “They want to kill us and we want to kill them!
“We have good players and we can sign one player off them, it’s not a good relationship – it’s a deal for money and a deal for players.
“I am happy for Emiliano Martinez and Morgan Rogers and I know I am not happy for Chelsea.”
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A series of deals betwen the clubs began after Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, took control of the club in 2022 and signed Carney Chukwuemeka from Villa for £20m that summer. Ian Maatsen (£37.5m, to Villa), Omari Kellyman (£19m, to Chelsea) and Axel Disasi (a £5m loan deal, to Villa) subsequently moved between the clubs.
This summer alone has brought four more deals. Morgan Rogers completed a £117m move Chelsea, while Alejandro Garnacho joined Villa on loan with a conditional obligation to buy in a deal worth around £43m.
Jackson then moved to Villa for £65m, before Martinez followed.
Since 2022, Chelsea have paid Aston Villa £163.5m for players. Villa have spent £102.5m on Chelsea players including Axel Disasi’s loan fee. That figure could rise to £150.5m should certain criteria be met to make Garnacho’s loan move permanent. Chelsea believe the terms are easily reachable.
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Chelsea and Villa have done business before. Tammy Abraham, Ross Barkley, Danny Drinkwater, Ryan Bertrand, Steve Sidwell and Andy Townsend are among those to have moved between the clubs during the Premier League era, while John Terry joined Villa after leaving Chelsea.
But the recent volume of business between the clubs has not gone unnoticed elsewhere in the Premier League, at a time when both have had to navigate domestic and European financial regulations. One source told BBC Sport that a number of club executives have raised questions about the frequency of the dealings.
There is no suggestion, though, that either club have broken any rules.
BBC Sport has approached Chelsea and Aston Villa for comment.
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Which clubs have done the most business together?
BBC Sport has counted every permanent transfer and loan between Premier League clubs since the summer of 2022, restricting the analysis to the 15 sides who have been in the top flight throughout that period.
There is a tie at the top: Chelsea have done eight deals with Villa, and another eight with Brighton.
Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest are next on six, followed by Arsenal and Chelsea on five.
Chelsea feature in six of the 10 busiest club pairings, illustrating the scale of their player trading since the BlueCo consortium completed its takeover.
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BlueCo’s £4.25bn purchase of Chelsea ended Roman Abramovich’s 19-year ownership and ushered in a period of significant squad turnover.
But Villa’s close relationship with Chelsea also has a more specific explanation.
Relationships and regulations
Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali and Villa owner Nassef Sawiris have developed a close working relationship and have communicated directly over transfer business.
That relationship has spanned several transfer windows and included Rogers’ move to Stamford Bridge this summer.
Chelsea did not have a clear run at Rogers, though – as Arsenal also wanted to sign him, and it was the player’s decision to move to Stamford Bridge.
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Uefa has the power to scrutinise transfers completed between the same clubs within a 45-day period. Garnacho’s move to Villa – on an initial loan deal – came two days after Rogers signed for Chelsea. Jackson’s permanent transfer went through 38 days after the Rogers one.
But a timeline on its own is not evidence that the deals were in any way related.
Villa, for instance, could point to their long-held interest in Jackson, who previously worked with head coach Unai Emery at Villarreal.
Chelsea, meanwhile, could argue their interest in Martinez was independent of previous dealings with Villa and would have been pursued regardless of the club he played for. The goalkeeper had attracted interest from Juventus earlier in the window, with a finger injury understood to have scuppered a move.
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Why do Premier League clubs buy from each other?
There are broader reasons why domestic transfers remain attractive, but money is often the biggest factor.
Premier League clubs generally have greater spending power than most teams elsewhere in Europe, meaning another English side may be among the few buyers capable of meeting the fee and wage demands of a selling club.
That can make domestic deals particularly attractive when clubs are trying to move on high-value players. Signing from within the league also reduces some of the uncertainty, with recruitment teams already familiar with a player’s qualities and performances.
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Yet even in a league where domestic trading is commonplace, the frequency of deals between Villa and Chelsea stands out.
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