Aston Villa agree deal to sign Garnacho from Chelsea on loan

Aston Villa have struck an agreement with Chelsea to sign Alejandro Garnacho on loan. The deal includes a conditional obligation to buy, and that condition is expected to be met without much trouble.

Garnacho only joined Chelsea last summer. He arrived from Manchester United in a £40m move.

The details

The structure of this deal matters. It is not a straightforward loan. Villa will pay a fee to have Garnacho for the season, but built into the agreement is a clause that turns the move permanent once certain conditions are hit. Those conditions are said to be modest, so most inside the game expect the transfer to become permanent in time.

For Chelsea, this represents a swift change of direction on a player they paid £40m for just months ago.

Why this is happening

Garnacho's time at Stamford Bridge has not gone the way either side hoped. Game time has been hard to come by, and he has struggled to force his way into Chelsea's plans since arriving from Old Trafford.

Villa, by contrast, need attacking width and pace on the flanks. Garnacho fits that profile, and his age means there is still plenty of development left in him.

What happens next

Garnacho is expected to undergo a medical before the loan is finalised. Once that is complete and paperwork is signed off, Villa will be able to register him.

An official announcement from both clubs is expected once the deal is confirmed.

What it means

This move gives Garnacho the fresh start he needs after a difficult few months in west London. For Villa, it adds another attacking option heading into the season. Whether the obligation to buy is triggered will depend on how things unfold once he is back playing regularly.