It was a hectic transfer deadline day for Aston Villa. Up until Monday, it has been a quiet summer at Villa Park in terms of incomings, but there was a flurry of late activity, which somewhat redeemed what the club had done in the 2025 summer window.
In total, Emery’s side made three last-minute signings, with one of those on a free transfer. Centre-back Victor Lindelof made the move to the West Midlands after his contract at Manchester United expired at the end of last season.
Versatile attacker Harvey Elliott left Liverpool for the Villans on a loan deal with an obligation to buy him imcluded for a fee of £35m.
Harvey Elliott celebrates for Liverpool
The other signing made by Unai Emery’s side saw them sign another attacking player, Jadon Sancho.
What Villa can expect from Sancho
Villa’s new number 19 this season will be Sancho. The English winger will also join on a loan deal from Manchester United, although there is no buy clause in the move, with his contract at Old Trafford set to expire at the end of next season.
jadon-sancho-chelsea (2)
Once one of the most exciting wonderkids in world football, Sancho’s career somewhat stagnated at Old Trafford after a fallout with former manager Erik ten Hag. He has played for Borussia Dortmund over two spells and spent last season on loan at Chelsea.
The 25-year-old honed his craft in the Bundesliga, and Jamie Carragher said he was “one of the best young players at the moment in world football” at that time. His best season in that famous yellow shirt came in 2019/20, when he scored 17 goals and assisted the same number in just 32 Bundesliga games. He was scintillating for Dortmund.
Of course, the last few seasons have not been as prolific, but 15 goal involvements for Chelsea in 2024/25, including one in the Conference League final, were impressive.
There is no doubt that Emery would love to help guide the winger back to his very best at Villa Park.
Sancho
Sancho set a trend in many ways by getting his footballing education abroad. We have since seen other young English stars follow in his footsteps, with Jude Bellingham perhaps the best example.
In fact, there is a former Villa player who is now emulating Sancho.
Carney Chukwuemeka is now emulating Sancho
Sancho certainly set a trend by moving to Germany at just 17 years of age, and Dortmund have become a club known for producing some of the best young talents. Well, one of their latest signings in that mould will be familiar to Villa fans.
Sancho Dortmund
21-year-old Carney Chukwuemeka was once regarded as “one of the best young players in England”, according to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol.
A Villans academy graduate, he made 16 appearances for the club, registering one assist for Ollie Watkins against Norwich City.
Villa didn’t get to see much of their talent before he moved away from the club.
Chukwuemeka joined Chelsea for £20m in 2022, which, in itself, is similar to Sancho, given the Englishman previously played for the Blues on loan.
carney-chukwuemeka-borussia-dortmund-bundesliga
After limited opportunities at Chelsea, the former Villans star switched to Dortmund on loan last winter and then on a permanent move over the summer. So far, he’s made 18 appearances across the two spells, scoring one goal.
Dortmund certainly platform young players well, because Chukwuemeka has thrived at the club, just as Sancho did during his two successful stints. The stats from his loan last season are a perfect example, with the Austrian-born midfielder boasting an average expected goal involvement tally of 0.8xGI per 90 minutes.
Chukwuemeka for Dortmund 24/25
Stat
Key passes
Big chances created
Dribbles completed
Tackles & interceptions
Expected goal involvements
Stats from Sofascore
It might well sting Villa fans that they let a talent as good as Chukwuemeka slip through the net. With his limited opportunities at Stamford Bridge, he may have had a better chance at regular first-team football had he stayed in the West Midlands.
chukwuemeka-aston-villa-premier-league-chelsea-transfer
Despite that, he is now emulating Sancho’s career path, thriving at Dortmund just as the England international did. If their careers continue to mirror, perhaps he’ll be back at Villa Park before too long.