Emi Martinez's messy transfer saga overshadowed Aston Villa's impressive deadline day business
Emi Martinez remains an Aston Villa player after the window closed
Emi Martinez remains an Aston Villa player after the window closed
Aston Villa concluded their summer transfer window with three deadline day additions.
Victor Lindelöf was the first to arrive, signing on a free transfer following the expiry of his Manchester United contract earlier this summer. Jadon Sancho has joined on a straight loan, while Harvey Elliott is expected to become a permanent Villa player next summer for £35 million after spending this season on loan.
All three players add depth and quality to Villa’s squad and were signings that Unai Emery had hoped Monchi would finalise in the final 24 hours of the window.
A fourth signing - a new number one goalkeeper - was on the cards earlier in the day. However, Manchester United opted to pursue a deal for Senne Lammens instead of Emi Martínez. The Argentina number one was keen on a move to United, having expressed a desire to start a new chapter in his career this summer.
He was not included in Villa’s squad to face Crystal Palace on Sunday, as he was not in the right frame of mind to play.
Moves to Turkey and Saudi Arabia were also offered to Martínez, with Galatasaray making a last-minute approach, according to reports - but the goalkeeper was not interested.
It’s a messy situation, but Martínez has enough goodwill with most fans to win them back and refocus himself, the supporters, and his teammates as Villa look to kick-start their season after the international break.
The ball is now in Martínez’s court. Frankly, the most important thing is that he takes ownership of the situation, knuckles down at Bodymoor Heath, apologises for the disruption ahead of the Palace match, and focuses on winning silverware - which he claimed was his number one objective before he leaves.
We don’t want Instagram posts - what Emery and his teammates need is a clear sign that he’s ready to leave the summer drama behind and commit fully to the challenges ahead.
Martínez’s personality can be a powerful force, but it could just as easily be a distraction for Villa this season. Only he can resolve this.
The solution to Martínez making amends is fully in his power. Without making the right decision here, he will undoubtedly leave under a cloud when he eventually does depart - possibly next summer.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Perhaps with some reflection, Martínez will realise that he cannot let his time at Villa fizzle out - not when there’s still a big opportunity for the club to end a long wait to lift silverware, in a competition Emery has won four times in his career, including in three successive seasons.
It’s been an awfully challenging window for Villa, but it’s made even more infuriating by the fact that one of their own has added to the problems.
Villa were restricted by the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), as well as UEFA’s financial regulations. Under PSR, clubs are permitted to lose up to £105 million over a rolling three-year period. Villa unsuccessfully lobbied last year to increase that limit to £135 million.
However, it is UEFA’s rules that Villa have found even more challenging to comply with. Like the Premier League, UEFA limits clubs to three-year losses - €60 million (£51.8m), of which €55 million (£47.5m) can be covered through secure owner funding.
Clubs deemed to be in good financial standing are granted an additional cushion of €30 million (£25.9m), allowing for total losses of up to €90 million (£77.7m) over three years. UEFA insists these rules are not intended to create a level playing field but to ensure clubs live within their means.
Villa were fined £9.5 million by UEFA in July for breaching the European governing body's financial regulations last season, including spending more than the permitted 80% of income on player wages.
UEFA had been in constructive talks with Villa since December, and both parties agreed that part of the punishment would also involve having a positive transfer balance at the end of this window.
Jacob Ramsey’s £39 million sale to Newcastle United was completed last month, in a move that improved Villa’s position with regard to both the Premier League and UEFA’s financial rules.
However, that did not allow the club to spend freely in the final days of the window, although they had a degree of flexibility following other departures. Leon Bailey, Leander Dendoncker, and Alex Moreno all left the club after Ramsey’s move to Tyneside.
Bailey joined AS Roma on loan until the end of the season, at which point the Italian club will decide whether to sign him permanently for £19 million or allow him to return to Villa.
Dendoncker and Moreno - both in the final year of their respective deals - left Villa on free transfers, though removing their wages from the books was an important factor.
Sancho, Elliott, and Evann Guessand are all exciting additions to the squad for different reasons.
Much like Marcus Rashford, Sancho has a point to prove and is at a crossroads in his career. No doubt Rashford gave a glowing review of what Villa can offer him - and of Emery’s methods.
Elliott, meanwhile, was named Player of the Tournament for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship back in July. He is essentially a permanent addition to the squad.
Despite the financial restrictions Villa have been dealing with - and the lack of Champions League football - Monchi has managed to keep hold of the players Emery wanted to, including prized assets like Boubacar Kamara, Morgan Rogers, and Ollie Watkins.
However, Martínez - one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League - remains. But is that best for all parties? It feels like the success of this window may depend on the attitude the Argentina number one returns to Bodymoor Heath with.
With a fresh outlook on what will probably be his final season at Villa, and with three trophies still to play for, only a unified approach will help the club and his teammates achieve their goals.
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