Aston Villa sign Argentina international Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea on initial season-long loan
Updated 23/07/2026 at 16:42 GMT+1
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Aston Villa have signed Chelsea winger and Argentina international Alejandro Garnacho on an initial season-long loan deal, reportedly with a conditional obligation to buy, the club announced on Thursday.
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Villa are aiming to build on their fourth-placed Premier League finish and UEFA Europa League success of last season.
Unai Emery told the official Villa website: "We are delighted with Alejandro. He is so talented, young and he showed us his wish to help our project. We are really happy."
According to reports, the 22-year-old is set to pen a four-year contract at Villa Park if the deal is made permanent. He will wear the No. 17 shirt, the same number he donned at Manchester United
Garnacho played for three years at United, before moving to Chelsea in 2025. He memorably scored their opening goal when they beat neighbours Manchester City in the 2024 FA Cup final.
He failed to establish himself properly in west London - and now adds another English club to his CV.
Garnacho played 43 times at Stamford Bridge in his debut season, scoring eight goals.
However, it was a tough campaign for the Argentine and the rest of the side. Enzo Maresca grew unsettled towards the end of 2025 and left the club early in the following year.
With Liam Rosenior failing to convince as Maresca's replacement, Xabi Alonso has now been brought in, and he has elected to move Garnacho on in his first pre-season at the club.
The winger is Villa's fourth signing of the summer, following Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes and Modou Keba Cisse through the door.
But star names have left Villa Park too - Youri Tielemans, Donyell Malen, Enzo Barrenechea and Lewis Dobbin all departing.
Morgan Rogers has also left, moving in the opposite direction to Garnacho as he has moved to Chelsea for a fee believed to be well in excess of £100 million after his stint with England at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
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Another England international, Ezri Konza, is also linked with a transfer away from Villa Park, with Arsenal believed to be suitors for the defender.
Villa had another stellar season in the 2025/26 campaign, finishing fourth in the Premier League - to qualify for the UEFA Champions League - and winning the UEFA Europa League.
It was a first trophy for Villa for 30 years, just reward for Emery who has done an outstanding job at the club.
By signing Garnacho, they have addressed Rogers' departure to some extent, but with Champions League football on the horizon, they could continue to add depth and quality to the squad.
Villa will begin their 2026/27 Premier League campaign at Brighton & Hove Albion on August 23.
Their first league game in front of the TNT cameras will be at Tottenham Hotspur on September 19.
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