The Big Aston Villa Summer Transfer Window 2025 Verdict
Transfer Window Context
Aston Villa went into the window under the shadow of UEFA’s wage-to-revenue ratio rules and the Premier League’s PSR framework. That meant Unai Emery and Monchi’s room for manoeuvre was minimal. The club needed to raise funds, trim wages, and still deliver a squad capable of fighting on three fronts. Within that reality, shifting Jacob Ramsey for close to £40m while plugging gaps with loans looks like textbook compliance.
But context doesn’t remove accountability. For all the financial juggling, there’s the bigger picture of a clear lack of mid-term succession planning. Villa supporters are being asked to pay more than ever, but the identity of “their” team risks being diluted by temporary band-aid signings. The few signings that have impacted the first XI and that supporters now genuinely connect with – Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, and Pau Torres – are still the exceptions. Most recent arrivals feel like stop-gaps, bench fillers, or cast-offs from Manchester United. That’s not how you build a club culture that fans can buy into.
That said, there’s an argument to say, Villa are still stronger squad-wise than at this point last season.
Strengths of the Window
- Financial Firefighting: Selling Ramsey and releasing high-wage fringe players prevented UEFA/PSR breaches spiralling further.
- Short-Term Competence: Lindelöf, Elliott, and Sancho bolster the squad at minimal upfront cost, while Guessand injects youth and potential in attack. Marco Bizot strengthens the goalkeeping department’s depth.
- Versatility: Emery gets cover across most positions without locking Villa into big contracts.
- Reduced Wages: Tyronne Mings and Lucas Digne signed contract extensions on reduced wages
Weaknesses of the Window
- Lack of Mid-Term Planning: Once again, like the January window, it’s very much ‘here and now’ signings, which is fair enough considering the stakes of the season, but it still leaves the feeling that they’re short-term stop gaps rather than a coherent project. Where is the next wave of Villa players fans can identify as Villa’s own?
- Little Return: The jury is still very much out on the big money signings of Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen. As well, those who have already left after short spells at the club.
- Identity Crisis: Aside from Emery’s early captures (Tielemans, Pau Torres, Rogers), the recent churn of loanees and short-term fixes makes it hard for supporters to feel as connected.
- PSR Pawns: The Ramsey sale was good for the accounts, but another example of Villa’s youth being harvested as PSR pawns.
- Opportunity Cost: Big spends last summer on Maatsen and Onana – neither making a real impact – meant this summer was more about patching holes than building foundations.
Grade:
C+
The MOMS team go into a lot more detail regarding the summer transfer window in the My Old Man Said podcast episode dedicated to the summer’s transfer shake-up. Is the short-termism of the current squad good enough to get Villa back into the Champions League – even if it’s via the Europa League? Is Champions League revenue the only way Emery and Monchi can build in a more considered fashion? There’s much to discuss.
Listen below on Spotify or on any good podcast app.
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