Villa turns to Adarabioyo after Konsa's departure

Aston Villa's management turns to Tosin Adarabioyo to fill the void left by Ezri Konsa, who has joined Arsenal. Villa has had a difficult summer, with the departures of Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne, while Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins could soon follow, along with Konsa. Rogers was notably sold for a record fee to Chelsea, and further exchanges between the two clubs could be on the horizon.

According to Sky Sports and The Sun, Benfica has also submitted a bid for the defender, hoping to bring him back under the guidance of Marco Silva, his former manager at Fulham. Meanwhile, Aston Villa has already confirmed the loan arrival of Alejandro Garnacho. With Konsa's move to London, the Midlands club has identified Adarabioyo as a potential replacement.

A former Chelsea player among the targets

Further transfers could still take place between Chelsea and Villa. Nicolas Jackson, Villarreal’s former striker managed by Unai Emery, is reportedly on the negotiation table. Influencer Fabrizio Romano claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that Villa has been courting the Senegalese forward for twelve months. Jackson, like Adarabioyo and Maatsen, played under Emery at Villarreal, which could ease his adaptation to Birmingham. This flurry of transfers aligns with a strategy to comply with the Premier League’s profitability rules, the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Chelsea could secure a significant capital gain from the sale of Adarabioyo, who was signed for free in 2020 before moving to Stamford Bridge. The defender, a Manchester City academy graduate, was transferred to Fulham on the final day of the 2020 transfer window before joining Chelsea four years later under Enzo Maresca.

A defender seeking playing time

Adarabioyo has established himself as a regular starter in his debut season at Chelsea, featuring in 41 matches across all competitions. However, his playing time decreased last season, a trend expected to continue with the arrival of Maxence Lacroix in his position. Villa sold Konsa for £51 million, plus add-ons, netting over €200 million in profit this summer after winning a European competition and securing Champions League qualification. According to Transfermarkt, Adarabioyo’s estimated value stands at €16 million. The Villans begin their season with an away trip to Brighton & Hove Albion this Sunday for the Premier League opener. Emery has already signed three former Chelsea players this season, including Axel Disasi and Jadon Sancho, aiming to bolster the squad while adhering to financial constraints. Rumors surrounding Nicolas Jackson persist as Villa and Chelsea could complete multiple deals together. The Birmingham club is seeking to optimize spending to meet Premier League requirements while maintaining sporting competitiveness.