Aston Villa's 2026 summer transfer window was one of the most turbulent in the club's recent history, marked by significant departures and strategic signings. The Athletic reported on the inner workings of a period that saw key players leave and a new generation arrive at Villa Park. nytimes.com first reported the story.
Who left Aston Villa this summer?
The window's most impactful exit was striker Ollie Watkins, who joined Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. Villa had been aware of the interest for six weeks and rejected four offers before the deal progressed. Watkins said goodbye to teammates and manager Unai Emery on August 26 before flying to Saudi Arabia the following morning. His former club Brentford was entitled to £3m-£3.5m from the transfer, with Exeter City awaiting their final payment figure.
Defender Ezri Konsa also departed, moving to Arsenal in a deal worth £51 million. Midfielder Morgan Rogers was sold to Chelsea. Many observers had suspected Youri Tielemans or Konsa might leave, but few imagined both plus goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Watkins all departing. A senior source described Watkins as remaining of 'important importance' to the club, with other close observers calling him Villa's biggest loss in years. The club had viewed him as the player who could bridge eras.
Which players did Aston Villa sign?
Villa's recruitment team, led by director of football operations Damian Vidagany and sporting director Roberto Olabe, secured several high-profile additions. They signed goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Atletico Madrid for €30 million plus €5 million in add-ons on August 16. Villa had tracked Suzuki for two summers, and negotiations accelerated when talks between the player and Paris Saint-Germain stalled.
Forward Nicolas Jackson arrived from Chelsea for an initial £47.5 million with £17.5 million in add-ons. Defender Matteo Ruggeri also joined from Atletico Madrid. On August 28, Villa reached an agreement in principle worth €55 million for winger Alejandro Garnacho, who joins on loan from Chelsea with a conditional obligation to buy for around £42.5 million based on appearances.
What other transfer business did Villa conduct?
The club targeted several other players throughout the window. They pursued defender Joel Ordonez from Club Brugge and agreed a fee of £25 million rising to £30 million for Southampton's Taylor Harwood-Bellis. In goal, Villa tracked Robin Risser at Lens and James Trafford as potential options.
Emiliano Martinez's situation drew significant attention. Juventus had offered €7 million plus €3 million for the Argentine before pulling out and signing Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham instead. Chelsea were offered Martinez by his representative Gustavo Goni, but Tottenham were never interested. Martinez ultimately remained at Villa Park.
How does this affect Villa's current season?
The squad overhaul comes as Villa face a challenging start to the 2026-27 Premier League campaign. They currently sit 19th in the standings with 0 points from two games, having lost both matches. Their form shows two consecutive defeats, with 0 goals scored and 5 conceded for a -5 goal difference. They trail leaders Manchester City by 6 points already.
Injury concerns add to the early-season difficulties, with Amadou Onana and Johan Manzambi currently sidelined according to the club's injuries list. The team travels to face Hull City, who are third in the table, on September 5 in their next fixture. You can view the full schedule on our fixtures page.
One senior figure at the club reflected on the changes last month after another key player was sold. “A whole generation made us proud,” they told The Athletic. “We are ready with excitement (that) a new generation is coming.” Another Premier League senior figure simply noted the window's nature with one word: “Carnage.” Villa knew they had to sell to buy this summer, and selling Rogers helped fund other transfers. The club had even considered offering Watkins a lucrative two-year extension on top of his existing contract running until 2030 before his desire to leave changed plans. Aston Villa's next match is away to Hull City on September 5, 2026.
