Alejandro Garnacho scored eight goals and registered four assists in 43 games for Chelsea last season. Aston Villa have announced the loan signing of Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho until the end of the 2026-27 season. The 22-year-old's transfer will "become permanent next summer should certain criteria be met," said the Blues, with the Argentine already agreeing a four-year contract at Villa Park.

The terms of the obligation to buy clause have not been disclosed by either club, but it is expected to be triggered if conditions, such as the number of appearances Garnacho makes next season, are met. Chelsea believe the terms are easily reachable and they will achieve their original £43m valuation.

Garnacho's departure from Stamford Bridge follows Chelsea's signing of Morgan Rogers for a record £117m fee from Villa on Tuesday. Villa head coach Unai Emery said he was "delighted" with Garnacho's arrival. "He is so talented, young and he showed us his wish to help our project. We are really happy," he added.

The winger becomes Villa's fourth signing, after the arrivals of Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes and Modou Keba Cisse. Villa's player sales this summer, meanwhile, total nearly £200m, with Youri Tielemans, Donyell Malen, Enzo Barrenechea and Lewis Dobbin all leaving.

The Blues have been keen to offload Garnacho despite signing him only last September in a £40m deal from Manchester United, who would be due 10% of any eventual transfer fee. His impact at Stamford Bridge has been limited to one Premier League goal, and the arrival of Rogers and Sporting winger Geovany Quenda have increased the need to reduce the size of the squad.

Garnacho, Rogers and two clubs trying to balance the books. Garnacho arrives at Aston Villa still with more promise than pedigree. Emery has shown faith in moving for the eight-cap Argentina international as he looks to rebuild his squad at Villa Park.

With Rogers moving to Stamford Bridge for a club-record sale of £117m, the club needed to act. They have been fluid in the market, an important stance given their finances and the general nature of the window, and Garnacho - who also interested Roma - represented a good opportunity.

Emery wanted a pacy winger and, with the option of an initial loan with an obligation to buy if certain clauses are met, the deal also gave Villa a degree of control over finances given they must still tread lightly with the Premier League's and Uefa's financial fair play rules.

Should the move become permanent - and Garnacho has already agreed a four-year contract - then he will have achieved something other attackers have not when on loan at Villa. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott joined previously with varying degrees of success in their temporary moves.

Rashford's 17-game spell at Villa Park in 2024-25 led to an England return, while Sancho flattered to deceive and Emery left Elliott in limbo with his decision not to play him more to trigger an obligation for a permanent transfer.

Clearly surplus to requirements at Chelsea, Garnacho does not want to return to somewhere he is not needed. One goal and four assists in 24 Premier League games for the Blues last season - or eight goals in 43 appearances in all competitions - suggest he will need to raise his game to meet the level Emery demands.

Eight assists and 16 goals in 93 games at Manchester United also shows Garnacho's end product must improve at Villa. There is clearly talent there and it is now up to him to show it, and for Emery to harness it.

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