Villa have agreed a loan deal with Chelsea for winger Alejandro Garnacho that will run until the end of the 2026-27 season.
The 22-year-old Argentina international has already undergone a medical in Birmingham ahead of the expected confirmation of the move.
Garnacho has pre-agreed a four-year contract at Villa Park, which will come into effect if the loan arrangement becomes permanent.
The obligation to buy clause has not been disclosed by either club, though it is expected to be triggered by the number of appearances Garnacho makes next season.
Chelsea believe the conditions are easily reachable and that the deal will ultimately deliver their original £43m valuation for the player.
The winger becomes Villa’s fourth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes, and Modou Keba Cisse.
Garnacho’s move to Villa Park follows Chelsea’s decision to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a record £117m fee earlier this week.
Chelsea had been eager to move Garnacho on despite signing him only last September from Manchester United in a £40m deal, with United due 10% of any eventual transfer fee.
His sole season at Stamford Bridge proved underwhelming, with the forward managing just one Premier League goal across a campaign that failed to meet expectations.
The arrivals of Rogers and Sporting winger Geovany Quenda further increased the need for Chelsea to reduce squad numbers heading into the new season.
In his defence, Garnacho started only nine matches following Liam Rosenior’s appointment, a 29-game period that also included Calum McFarlane’s second spell as interim manager at the end of the season.
Across all competitions, Garnacho recorded eight goals and four assists in 43 appearances, though most of those goals came against lesser opposition including Qarabag, Wrexham, Port Vale, and Cardiff City.
Two of his more notable contributions came against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, which stood out as highlights in an otherwise difficult year.
He also faced criticism from some supporters over a perceived lack of work-rate and instances of failing to track runners, most notably during a home defeat by West Ham when he was substituted at half-time.
Sources have told BBC Sport that Garnacho remained professional and worked hard behind the scenes, which bodes well for his future at his new club.
In a late-season interview with Premier League Productions, the winger admitted he had done some “bad things” at Old Trafford because he was not playing enough.
Others familiar with Chelsea’s dressing room said Garnacho struggled to integrate fully into the group and often cut a distant figure among his teammates.
Chelsea, however, have stressed there is no significant controversy surrounding his exit, viewing him simply as a player they were willing to move on as part of broader squad improvements.
Villa’s summer has seen considerable movement in both directions, with player sales totalling nearly £200m following the departures of Youri Tielemans, Donyell Malen, Enzo Barrenechea, and Lewis Dobbin.
Garnacho will now be looking to rebuild his reputation under Villa’s management and establish himself as a consistent presence in the Premier League once more.
