Aston Villa's European heroes are already departing. The club ended a 30-year wait for silverware by lifting the Europa League in May against Freiburg, but six of the starting XI could leave before the transfer window closes on 1 September.
Ezri Konsa's £51m move to Arsenal is the latest high-profile exit after Istanbul goalscorers Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers left last month. Rogers' £117m transfer to Chelsea set a record for an English player. Lucas Digne departed for Paris St-Germain, and goalkeeper Emi Martinez's future remains uncertain following his failed Juventus move and Villa's signing of Zion Suzuki. Al-Hilal may also pursue Ollie Watkins before the deadline, with Villa reportedly offering the striker a new contract to retain him. That would leave Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Victor Lindelof, John McGinn and Emi Buendia from the starting eleven in Istanbul.
Financial regulations have forced the departures, according to a former Villa executive. Uefa's squad cost ratio restricts the club to spending 70 percent of football-related revenue on wages, transfers and agent fees. Villa have incurred two Uefa fines for breaches—a £9.5m penalty last year and a £19.4m sanction in June, with £12.9m suspended after a settlement. The Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules additionally limit losses to £105 million over a rolling three-year period. "It's necessity because of the rules," the former executive told BBC Sport. "It does seem slightly unfair they're having their ambition capped at this level."
This summer's sales will raise around £212m once Konsa's deal concludes, following £200m raised from sales of Jhon Duran, Douglas Luiz, Jacob Ramsey and Moussa Diaby over the past two years. Villa's latest accounts showed a £17m post-tax profit, but losses of £119.6m in 2023 and £85.4m in 2024. Last summer's gross spending of £71m was substantially less than Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, all exceeding £200m.
Manager Unai Emery has continued to improve the squad despite the upheaval, having taken over when Villa were 14th. The club has focused on younger signings including midfielder Joao Gomes, 23-year-old goalkeeper Suzuki and defender Matteo Ruggeri, 24. Captain John McGinn said after last week's Super Cup defeat to Paris St-Germain in Salzburg that Villa's structure and standards remain intact under Emery, while other top sides have appointed new managers. Striker Brian Madjo, 17, registered by Villa this month, scored on his debut against PSG eight months after joining from Metz for £10m.
