Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign winger Alejandro Garnacho on a season-long loan, with the deal including an obligation to make the move permanent under specific conditions.
The 22-year-old Argentina international has already completed his medical in Birmingham and agreed personal terms on a four-year contract that will come into effect if the transfer is finalized next summer. While neither club has disclosed the exact conditions attached to the obligation to buy, the clause is expected to activate once Garnacho reaches agreed appearance-related targets during the 2026-27 campaign.
Chelsea are understood to believe those conditions are comfortably achievable and expect to receive a fee matching their original valuation of around £43 million.
Garnacho’s switch comes only months after Chelsea signed him from Manchester United for £40 million last September. Under the terms of that transfer, United are entitled to 10% of any future transfer fee Chelsea receive.
The move follows Chelsea’s club-record £117 million signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa earlier this week. Rogers, alongside Sporting winger Geovany Quenda, has increased competition in Chelsea’s attacking ranks, prompting the club to reduce the size of its squad.
Villa, meanwhile, continue an active summer in the transfer market. Garnacho becomes the club’s fourth new arrival after Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes and Modou Keba Cisse. The Birmingham side have also generated close to £200 million through player sales, with Youri Tielemans, Donyell Malen, Enzo Barrenechea and Lewis Dobbin among those departing.
Garnacho endured a difficult first season at Stamford Bridge, managing just one Premier League goal after limited opportunities under head coach Liam Rosenior. He started only nine league matches during Rosenior’s tenure, a period that also included Calum McFarlane’s second spell as interim manager.
His overall record was stronger across all competitions, producing eight goals and four assists in 43 appearances. However, aside from two Carabao Cup goals against Arsenal, most of his goals came against lower-profile opponents such as Qarabag, Wrexham, Port Vale and Cardiff City.
The winger also faced criticism from sections of Chelsea supporters over his work rate and defensive contribution. On several occasions he was accused of failing to track opposing runners, including during a home defeat to West Ham when he was substituted at half-time after being involved in the build-up to two conceded goals.
Despite those concerns, sources close to the club say Garnacho remained professional throughout his time at Chelsea and maintained a strong attitude in training. Earlier this year, he also acknowledged in an interview that he had made mistakes during his Manchester United spell because frustration over limited playing time affected his behaviour.
People familiar with Chelsea’s dressing room suggested Garnacho never fully settled within the squad, although there was no major dispute behind his departure. Instead, Chelsea viewed his exit as part of a broader effort to reshape the squad while Villa see the Argentine as a player capable of reigniting his career with regular first-team football.