Villa consider Chelsea outcast as summer transfer window heats up | OneFootball

Aston Villa Weigh Up Joao Felix Move as Chelsea Prepare for Summer Sale

There’s something faintly poetic—if not predictable—about Joao Felix once again being on the periphery of a project that promised more than it has delivered. Once a €126m phenom, now a £46.3m question mark, the Portuguese forward could soon find himself at the heart of another rebuild, this time under Unai Emery at Aston Villa.

Chelsea open to offers

Chelsea’s decision to part with Felix, as reported by TEAMtalk, should surprise no one. The 25-year-old was signed permanently in 2024 after a modest loan spell, with the Blues committing £46.3m and a seven-year contract to a player who had, to date, flattered only in flashes.

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Felix’s lack of rhythm under Enzo Maresca this season—just three Premier League starts—saw him loaned to AC Milan, where the returns have been modest. One goal and one assist in ten Serie A appearances have not prompted Milan to seek a permanent deal.

“Chelsea’s preference is to ideally sell Felix,” TEAMtalk states, although a loan remains on the table if a sale would represent a financial loss.

Villa’s interest remains

Despite Felix’s nomadic recent years, Aston Villa’s interest has not cooled. Unai Emery is understood to still admire the former Benfica star, believing there’s a system in which Felix could flourish. That said, Villa face more than tactical concerns.

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“Felix’s wages are an issue for Villa,” the report adds, and Emery must also consider whether to pursue permanent deals for Marcus Rashford or Marco Asensio, both currently on loan at Villa Park.

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With Donyell Malen and Morgan Rogers also competing for attacking roles, Villa’s decision will hinge on the futures of other loanees and how Felix might fit into an already fluid forward structure.

Bigger picture for Chelsea

For Chelsea, this is more than just squad trimming. Offloading Felix—along with Raheem Sterling, currently on loan at Arsenal—is about financial repositioning. The club wants funds for a marquee number nine, and with Estevao joining and Christopher Nkunku already on the books, Felix is surplus to requirement.

Sources suggest Chelsea would prefer to recoup as much of the £46.3m fee as possible, but a loan isn’t ruled out. It’s a balancing act—maximising value while creating space for new arrivals.

What happens next

With Milan out of the equation and Villa assessing their options, the path is open but not simple. Felix remains a player of talent—vision, flair, and moments of brilliance—but one increasingly cast in the role of luxury rather than necessity.

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Whether Villa can offer the right environment, the right role, and most crucially, the right financial package, remains to be seen.

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A Villa fan’s sceptical take on the Felix link

Joao Felix has always been one of those players with potential written all over him—but at 25, potential has to start turning into consistency. If Chelsea can’t find a spot for him, and Milan can’t justify keeping him after a weak loan spell, why should Villa bend over backwards?

Unai Emery has built a team with structure and resilience. Do they really need a flair player who drifts in and out of games and reportedly commands big wages? Felix isn’t short on skill, but is he the kind of character who’ll fight for the shirt when you’re battling away at Turf Moor in December?

Villa have Morgan Rogers developing well, Donyell Malen adjusting, and if they can keep Rashford or even get Asensio permanently at a reasonable price, why gamble on another misfit from a club trying to offload him?

Felix might make sense for some clubs, but Villa don’t need another statement signing—they need functional quality. Unless the deal is cheap and on their terms, they’re better off looking elsewhere.