Aston Villa are in advanced talks with Chelsea over a season-long loan move for winger Alejandro Garnacho, with a conditional obligation to buy attached to the deal, according to The Athletic.

The 22-year-old Argentine had a difficult debut campaign at Stamford Bridge after arriving from Manchester United for £40 million last August. Garnacho managed just 14 Premier League starts, scoring once in the league, though he contributed seven further goals across cup competitions. He also missed out on Argentina's FIFA World Cup 2026 squad.

Emery key to convincing Garnacho

Villa manager Unai Emery is said to be a driving force behind the pursuit. The Athletic reports that Emery — who had already attempted to sign Garnacho from Manchester United the previous summer — has personally convinced the player to choose Villa over other suitors.

Roma are also understood to have shown interest in the winger, but Villa believe Emery's influence has been decisive in steering Garnacho toward a move to Birmingham.

Chelsea's new head coach Xabi Alonso has reportedly given Garnacho permission to miss the club's pre-season training in order to facilitate the transfer.

UEFA rules shape the deal's structure

The structure of the loan — rather than an outright purchase — is no accident. The Athletic notes that this deal is entirely separate from the £117 million transfer of England forward Morgan Rogers from Villa to Chelsea.

Under UEFA regulations, if Villa were to sign Garnacho on a permanent basis within 45 days of completing the Rogers sale, the profit recorded on that transfer would be reduced to the net difference between the two fees. A loan arrangement sidesteps that financial complication entirely.

Garnacho rose through the ranks at Manchester United after joining their academy from Atletico Madrid in October 2020. He made his first-team debut in April 2022 and went on to score 26 goals in 144 appearances for the club — including a stunning acrobatic strike against Everton that earned the Premier League goal of the season award for 2023/24.

A falling-out with former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim contributed to his departure last summer. At Chelsea, he never fully nailed down a starting berth and now looks set to move on after just one year at the club.

Aston Villa will compete in the UEFA Champions League next season following their UEFA Europa League triumph, while Chelsea will sit out European football entirely after finishing 10th in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.