Exclusive: ‘Aston Villa forced to sell two players despite claims after UEFA fine’
Aston Villa will be forced to cash in on at least one or two players as they try to avoid further sanctions from UEFA that could see them barred from competing in Europe.
That is the view of football finance expert Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider exclusively that the Villains have “a bit of work to do” to avoid a ban from the European governing body.
Villa were hit with a fine of €11million (£9.5m) and could receive a further €15m (£13m) in fines over the next three years after failing to comply with UEFA’s financial regulations [The Athletic].
The club were found to have a squad cost ratio above 80 per cent for 2024 and were “awarded fines proportionate to the size of the excess.”
Villa sold their women’s team to V Sports, the parent company that owns the club, to avoid a sanction from the Premier League, but the profit from that sale cannot be used to escape punishment from UEFA.
And the Midlands club have further restrictions on their spending going forward, which, should they fail to work within, could result in a ban from European competition.
Aston Villa may have to sell to avoid UEFA ban
As outlined by football finance expert Stefan Borson on X, the Villains will be banned from European competition for one year if they make losses exceeding €85m (£73.6m).
Accounts have not yet been published for the 2024/25 period, but in Villa’s 2023/24 accounts, the club revealed they had made losses of £85.4m (€98.58m) [BBC Sport].
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Plumley explained that whilst there was a “lower level of risk” for the club as things stand, they would likely have to move “one or two” players on this summer to be sure.
Villa have previously claimed they don’t need to sell players [The Athletic], particularly before the PSR deadline on 30 June, but UEFA’s stance on the club’s finances may have changed that.
He said: “We’re trying to predict the future, and that’s never an easy game, but if you look at a worst-case scenario with the ban, I think at the moment there’s a lower level of risk attached to that, shall we say.
“Because the sanctions as they are, the plan that Villa have agreed with UEFA and then the potential for, as I say, for the fines and things like that. It’s on that kind of scale of punishment, I guess we’re not quite there yet, but it does impact what’s going to happen in the next year for Villa.
“I know that they’ve come out and said they don’t have to sell players and it’s not something that they’re looking at, but I think it’s likely probably one or two do move on.
“Ultimately, given those numbers, the difference between Champions League football and Europa League will hurt them a little bit financially as well, but they have had a good year in the Champions League. So there’s a lot of moving parts to it.
“I guess in terms of a ban, we’re still not quite there yet, but I think they’ve got a bit of work to do.
“As we’ve said before with Villa, looking at those numbers, there’s a bit of work to do in the next year, and you hope that that’s not a possibility for them. I think it’s likely they’ll have to get a couple of players out of the door this summer.”
Chelsea interested in signing Emi Martinez
With Unai Emery’s side in need of a cash boost to avoid further sanctions from UEFA, Mick Brown revealed to Football Insider that Chelsea have entered the race to sign Emi Martinez.
The Argentine shot-stopper is rated as one of the world’s very best, but Villa need funds and could take advantage of interest from the Blues and Man United to spark a bidding war.
Martinez changed agents at the beginning of the summer and the former Arsenal goalkeeper is expected to push for an exit this summer.