By Dorcas Francis Koji
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has rejected suggestions that his club enjoys a close relationship with Chelsea despite an extraordinary flow of players between the two Premier League sides in recent years.
Emiliano Martinez became the latest player to switch between the clubs after completing his move from Villa to Chelsea on Sunday.
The Argentina goalkeeper’s transfer came only days after Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson moved in the opposite direction, joining Aston Villa.
Martinez’s departure means eight players have now moved between the two clubs over the past four years, more than between any other pair of Premier League clubs through permanent and loan deals during that period.
Despite the frequency of the transactions, Emery insists the transfers are driven by football and financial considerations rather than any special relationship.
“Good relations? They want to kill us and we want to kill them!” Emery said, making it clear that the clubs remain competitive rivals on the pitch.
“We have good players and we can sign one player off them, it’s not a good relationship, it’s a deal for money and a deal for players.”
Emery added that while he was pleased for players such as Martinez and Morgan Rogers, he remained focused on Villa’s interests.
“I am happy for Emiliano Martinez and Morgan Rogers and I know I am not happy for Chelsea,” he said.
The transfer relationship between the clubs intensified following the takeover of Chelsea by BlueCo in 2022.
Carney Chukwuemeka became the first major deal of the new era, moving from Villa to Chelsea for £20m during the summer of 2022.
Since then, the clubs have continued to do business.
Ian Maatsen joined Aston Villa for £37.5m, while Omari Kellyman moved to Chelsea for £19m. Villa also secured Axel Disasi on loan in a deal involving a £5m fee.
The transfer activity increased further this summer, with four more deals taking place between the clubs.
Morgan Rogers completed a reported £117m move from Villa to Chelsea, while Alejandro Garnacho joined Villa on loan with a conditional obligation to buy in a deal worth around £43m.
Jackson subsequently moved to Villa for £65m before Martinez completed his switch to Chelsea.
Since 2022, Chelsea have spent £163.5m on players from Aston Villa, while Villa have committed £102.5m on Chelsea players, including the loan fee for Disasi.
Despite the huge financial value of the deals, Emery insists the repeated transactions should not be mistaken for friendship as Villa and Chelsea continue to compete for success in the Premier League.
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