Alejandro Garnacho joined Aston Villa on loan in the summer and could see his Chelsea career officially come to an end
Alejandro Garnacho of Aston Villa
Alejandro Garnacho left Chelsea in the summer to join Aston Villa on loan(Image: Joaquin Corchero/Europa Press via Getty Images)
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Alejandro Garnacho is reportedly increasingly likely to leave Chelsea on a permanent deal at the end of the season to join Aston Villa. Garnacho left the Blues to join Villa on a loan deal, which also includes an obligation to make the move permanent, provided certain conditions are met.
Chelsea signed Garnacho from Manchester United in 2025 in a deal worth around £40million, and he went on to score eight goals across 43 appearances in his debut season at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues went on to loan Garnacho to Villa earlier in the summer before Xabi Alonso’s first season in charge, and reports are suggesting that a permanent switch to Unai Emery’s side may be the most likely outcome.
The Athletic have reported that Villa staff have been briefed that there is an “extreme likelihood” that Garnacho will remain their player beyond this season.
The report claims that the conditions needing to be met to see Garnacho leave Chelsea to join Villa on a permanent deal remain a secret but are “easily achievable”, more so than the 10 appearances Harvey Elliott needed to make last season.
It has not been stated specifically, though, what these conditions are in order for Chelsea to receive the full transfer fee for the Argentina international. Villa staff were said to be 'surprised' the club signed him this summer but despite a lack of minutes, Emery is a known admirer, having tried to sign him when he was at United.
A separate report in The Telegraph has claimed that Garnacho has undergone a “mini pre-season” at Villa during the international break, which also included one-on-one meetings with Emery.
The 22-year-old posted on Instagram last week that he is 'ready now' after scoring in friendlies against Sevilla and Southampton. If Garnacho does leave Chelsea on a permanent basis over the next 12 months, the Blues would stand to receive around £43million.
Xabi Alonso is happy to let Garnacho leave
Xabi Alonso is happy to let Garnacho leave permanently(Image: (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images))
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The former Manchester United player may still have a lot of work to do, though, in order to see his Chelsea career officially come to an end.
Garnacho has made just three appearances so far for Villa, all of which came as late substitutes in the opening three Premier League matches of the season.
He was an unused substitute in the Champions League win over Club Brugge and the last two league matches against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as the Carabao Cup third round tie against Coventry City.
However, it looks like the Argentine will get his chance to shine in the near future. That will be good news for Chelsea, given Alonso does not fancy the winger and has other players in mind for the position going forward.