Aston Villa have significantly increased their wage bill following a series of last-minute transfer window deals, with the club committing more than £11 million in salaries for the remainder of the season.
The Midlands outfit moved swiftly before the deadline, securing loan moves for Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio, and Axel Disasi, while also finalizing permanent deals for Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia. These signings, coupled with outgoing transfers, have reshaped Villa’s financial commitments as they push to strengthen their squad for the crucial months ahead.
The club’s decision to bring in Rashford on loan from Manchester United has come at a significant cost, with Villa covering 70% of his £325,000-per-week wages. This translates to an estimated £4.9 million commitment over the next five months. Meanwhile, Asensio’s loan from Paris Saint-Germain sees Villa footing the entirety of his reported £230,000 weekly salary, adding another £5 million to their growing wage bill. Disasi, brought in from Chelsea, will also have his full wages covered, estimated at £80,000 per week, costing the club £1.7 million in total.
Alongside these loan deals, Villa splashed more than £25 million on permanent signings earlier in the window. Malen, previously at Borussia Dortmund, and promising youngster Andres Garcia have been added to Unai Emery’s squad as part of the club’s strategic reinforcements. These arrivals came as Villa offloaded Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in a deal worth an initial £64 million, while Jaden Philogene made a £20 million switch to Ipswich Town, and Diego Carlos moved to Fenerbahce for £10 million.
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Further squad adjustments saw Emiliano Buendia, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Lewis Dobbin, Louie Barry, and Samuel Iling-Junior all depart on loan. These outgoing moves will provide some financial relief, but the overall wage expenditure remains a pressing issue for the club. The three major loan arrivals alone contribute an estimated £11.6 million in additional wages over the coming months, with further costs attached to the structuring of these deals.
Villa’s financial situation has been under scrutiny, particularly after Deloitte’s 2025 Money League report highlighted the club’s revenue growth from £218 million in 2022-23 to a record-breaking £265 million last season. However, this increase in earnings has been accompanied by a sharp rise in wages, which have soared from £194 million to £252 million. With Premier League clubs only permitted to incur a £105 million loss over a rolling three-year period under profit and sustainability rules, Villa are now walking a financial tightrope.
As the season progresses, the club will need to balance their books carefully while maintaining their competitive edge on the pitch. Their recent transfer dealings reflect a bold push to strengthen their squad, but the long-term financial implications remain a key talking point. Villa’s ability to navigate these financial challenges could be crucial in determining their future stability and competitiveness at the highest level of English football.
